Youth sports are among the most talked about topics around most dinner tables.
But as parents, why do we sign up or get our kids involved in youth sports?
The apparent reason is that we want our kids to be physically active, but we also want them to develop the soft skills that sport teaches them.
We want them to understand and learn the fundamentals of teamwork, develop a growth mindset, be involved, make friends, and develop perseverance.
Most children take up sports because they may see their parents play or see old high school photos of them in action.
Parents play an essential role in your child's development in sports, and their actions can positively and negatively affect their sporting experience.
Youth sport has become so competitive that sometimes our actions get lost in the game's competitiveness that we forget the WHY!
Studies have found that positive parental involvement in youth sports leads to an enjoyable experience for young athletes.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/_c8XEY2OhCk - Click on the link to listen to the positive impact Kobe Bryant's dad had on him as a young basketball player
Identity is a big thing in youth sports today, and as parents, it's difficult not to live our identities through our children. This could be to make up for our lack of success as athletes growing up, or what they achieve is a reflection on us as parents.
And for the most part, we don't even know we are doing it.
As parents, we develop and build our youth athletes' identities.
Have an honest conversation with your child and ask them why you play sports. What do you want to achieve? What do you enjoy about sports?
Having an honest conversation will get them started and teach them goal setting, learning accountability, and taking control of their destiny.
Sports are a great way to create positive bonds between young athletes and their parents.
Don't become over-involved, and reassure your child that winning and losing do not define them; their attitude, perseverance, and relationships with their teammates will.
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