Supporting Your Young Athlete

Written by Grace Leidig, Edited by Emma Schneider

Parents and coaches have some of the largest impacts on a child’s experience in youth sports. It is important to remember that youth sports are about fun and development. It is our responsibility, as the adults, to ensure we are creating a positive atmosphere for the athletes to grow. 

Five Helpful Tips:

• Do not pressure your child to compete in a specific sport

• Explore what they’re interested in!

• Do not engage with or instigate “sideline rage”

• “about 15 percent of youth games involve some sort of verbal or physical abuse from parents or coaches” (Sage et al., p. 224, 2022). 

• Some parents or coaches may become so invested in the game that they lose control of their emotions and act out. These outbursts towards players, other parents, referees, etc can be damaging for the children’s experience. 

• Instead of “win at all costs”, think “double goals”

• Winning can be rewarding, but so is noticing improvement and hardwork in the athletes. 

• The positive lessons learned in the game such as hard work, fairness, and teamwork can be translated into everyday life. 

• Be on the lookout for overuse or burnout

• Listen to your child, and make sure they don’t feel overworked physically or mentally. 

• Do not compare one child’s skill level to another

• Even within each age group, there will be a wide range of development and skill level between the children.

• Be supportive of your child and their personal growth! 

References

George Harvey Sage, D. Stanley Eitzen, Beal, B., & Atencio, M. (2022). Sociology of Sport. Oxford University Press.