The Parent, A Student of the Game / Partners

The Family Team - The Parent, A Student of the Game

Here are some ideas that coaches can give parents so that they become expert support people and worthwhile members of the Family Team:

Learn the rules of the game or activity so that your comments are helpful. For example, it’s not a good idea to holler at the umpire when he made the correct call on a pop up and you don't know the infield fly rule.

Learn the strategies of the game so you don’t yell at Andy to stay on his man in that basketball game when the team is playing a zone defense. It’s also good to know the 3-second lane rule.

Learn the skills and tactics of the activity so that you can be a positive support to the coach. Don’t ever say, “Coach told you to grip the club that way but she’s wrong - the overlap grip is the only right one. (Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, and other professionals use an interlock grip.)

Never force your child to make a choice between what the coach tells her to do and what you tell her to do.

Know the correct behavior/involvement as a fan and parent. Cheer “Hit it!” like crazy when your daughter is batting in a softball game and don’t holler, “Miss it!” when your daughter’s opponent in a golf match play tournament is putting.

Know your child’s abilities to do the required skills, his readiness to do them, and his emotional and psychological status in dealing with the events. Is he ready to hit a curve ball? Can he deal with losing a game? Winning the game? Can he deal with having to sit on the bench?

Learn all you can about Coaching. I don’t want you to get on the Coach’s back on every issue that arises and every decision he makes. However, it is your responsibility to learn what Coaches can and should be doing with your child.

Support the officials when they are right – be courteous with them when they are wrong.

Keep in mind that your child’s team is a peer group and that it can have a very strong positive effect.

Above all, be a Champion for Judy. Protect her from physical and psychological abuse (including your own).

Remember how no matter what you did with Larry to ‘help’ him take those first steps, he didn’t walk until his muscles, sense of balance, desire, and confidence were developed sufficiently to enable him to accomplish the task.