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Parents play an important role in the youth sports experience. From driving to practice to being in the stands on game day, our support means the world to our children.
Unfortunately, the sports parent today is often vilified, with too many having behaved poorly and contributed to a toxic environment for young athletes, coaches and officials. Even if we're not guilty of the most extreme examples, we've all witnessed the parent screaming from the sidelines or seen the online clips of parents throwing punches in the stands. These actions ruin the game for our children and have no place in youth sports. As parents, it's our responsibility to create a positive environment and work diligently to eliminate these issues.
The video above provides tips to promote positive sideline behavior and strategies for
working with coaches to develop an exceptional culture within our teams. While it may be
tempting to think the problem lies only with the extreme behavior other parents, the reality is that all of us can likely improve our own approach in a way that benefits our children.
Examine your words, actions and demeanor based on the Guidelines for Sidelines in the
above video, then make a commitment to improving in one area during your child's next
game. In addition, consider other ways that you can create a supportive environment for
your child, his or her coach, and officials. Are there ways that you can set a positive
example, promote the desired environment, or hold others accountable for the expectations set by the team?
Our children need us to be leaders in the effort to establish a fun and enjoyable experience inyouth sports. By working together, parents can become an important part of the solution,
building an environment where our kids' favorite games provide an opportunity to laugh, play and grow.
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