I think we will all agree that sports give children the opportunity to build confidence and self-esteem. It is an opportunity to learn good sportsmanship and gain respect for self and others. And especially in the sport of wrestling, gives them the chance to learn to manage success and disappointment. Of course coaches and parents play an important part as role models. It is the parent’s job to help build self-esteem. However,realize that you cannot live your dreams through your child, and that they have dreams of their own. Focusing on one sport year-round is not going to insure your child will excel in high school, college or beyond. In fact, I believe there are studies that show that a well-rounded child is best. There are many college and professional athletes that did more than one sport while a kid. Summarizing an article I read: “A parent should help a child set performance goals and develop a winning perspective and strive to instill a healthy level of competition. Qualities of a good coach include: the joy of competition, knows the meaning of effort, worth of character, power of kindness, honesty, patience, and rewards cooperation. One important key in being a coach is to not make winning the primary goal but to help young people develop physically, mentally, and socially. Focus on doing your best. A poor coach focuses on the losses. Warning signs of a poor coach include: using profanity, coach argues with the officials all of the time, criticizes players-not their behaviors, won’t listen to parents, allows cheating, winning is the only way, ignores less skilled players, and only praises kid’s when they win.

Competitiveness has gone too far when you have parents, coaches, and/or kids fighting, making scenes.

Let’s bring the fun back by focusing on enjoying the sport, the healthy competitiveness of it and forming long lasting friendships! Perhaps, having parents sign forms to behave properly and a list of attributes for coaching expectations and have the coaches sign this as well. Just a thought...

Great Post!

Thanks. Maybe a bit too far with the signing an agreement. But, how else do you get through to some parents and some coaches what is right and what is wrong -- unless you spell it out for them in black and white. There are of course lots of worthy coaches and loving parents to be thanksful for and there are also coaches and parents who if their eyes are opened have the potential to be.

A Parents Guide to Improving Youth Sports

This is an Adobe PDF file and will open in a new window!

Citizenship Through Sports Alliance!

The Citizenship Through Sports Alliance is the largest coalition of professional and amateur athletics organizations in the United States, focused on character in sport. CTSA promotes fair play at all levels - youth leagues to professional sport - to reinforce the value of sport as a test of character. Since 1997, CTSA has been building a sports culture that encourages respect for self, respect for others, and respect for the game.

Thanks for the great info!