Sports
for kids—whether its baseball, soccer, or lacrosse—can be great at teaching
them teamwork and discipline. But that benefit can quickly be lost when a
mom or dad puts too much pressure on their child. Avoid these 7 things parents
do to make their kids hate sports.
1.
They forget their children are kids.
It’s easy
to get caught up in the pressure of turning our kids into super athletes.
But when that happens, we start to expect our children to train like
adults. Well, they’re not adults. Yes, they should be focused on
doing their best, but their bodies are not able to bear the strain of grown-up
size repetition. Plus, the joy of sports is having fun. If you
expect your 8 year old to have the focus and work ethic of a high-schooler,
you’re expecting too much.
2.
They embarrass their kids.
I just
read an article about a father who would yell out to his son, “You’re playing
like a girl!” at his son’s games. In front of everyone. Parents also
embarrass their kids when they coach from the stands, yell at umpires and refs,
and confront the coach in an inappropriate way.
3.
They compare their kids.
You might
not even realize you’re doing this one. If you say, “That Abby has amazing ball
control,” your child is hearing, “My mom thinks I’m not as good as Abby.”
More blatant examples of hurtful comparisons include, “Why can’t you move
around the bases like Jack?” “If only you practiced as much as Sophia,
you’d be good too.”
4.
They don’t show up.
Sports
are a big commitment, so if you sign your children up to play, make sure you’re
all in. That means making every game you can. It may seem like you’re
spending all of your free time at the field, but you’re also building memories
and showing your children that you believe in them.
5.
They overschedule their kids.
It’s common
these days for kids to join travel teams as early as 8 years old. You’ll
hear the parents say, “He loves soccer so much. It was his idea.” It
might have been your child’s idea, but you are the one who can wisely weigh the
cost to your child. Is it really wise to let your children stay up late
several nights a week at practices and games? Is it best for him and your
family to spend all weekend traveling to tournaments? Many travel team
kids are burned out by the time they’re in middle school. Just something
to think about.
6.
They live through their kids.
Some
parents were not good athletes growing up, so the fact that their children are
very athletic amuses them. But sadly, there are parents who were super
athletic growing up who expect their children to be just like them. When
they’re not, the parents push, berate, and voice their disappointment.
Find a way to let your kids shine. If it’s the sport you or your spouse
love, great. If it’s not, accept your child and his preferences as is.
7.
They don’t look out for their kids.
If your
child is being treated badly by a coach, you need to step in. There is a
right way to talk to your child’s coach, so be sure to take that
approach. But by all means, don’t let anyone belittle your child to the
point that their confidence is shaken and their spirit is broken.
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2012 All Pro Dad. All Rights Reserved. Family First, All Pro Dad, iMOM, and
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