Congratulations! Your childʼs team made it to the play-offs! Quite an achievement and you and your young athlete should be proud.
In post-season play, athletes must step up their game in order to be successful and make it to the championship.
And in order for you to help your athlete play their best, you must step up your game as a sportsparent. You can do that by committing yourself to these rules of conduct:
Believe. The hard work and skill that got your child and his team to the playoffs will help them compete in the post-season. Let your young athlete know you are confident that he will do his best and perform well. Donʼt put doubts in his head with comments like, Are you nervous about the BIG game? or I hope youʼre up for this!
Build up your child by supporting her and loving her unconditionally after each game, no matter how great or how poor her performance.
Back off. Now is not the time to start nagging your kid to condition or pushing them to try harder. If it hasnʼt done any good before, it wonʼt help now. Let them learn through this experience that preparation and hard work do pay off.
Bend. The play-offs could be a time to make exceptions and cut your child some slack. They are feeling pressure and sometimes itʼs okay to bend the rules--let them skip their chores for one night or watch more TV than usual.
Break free of team squabbles or coach-bashing. Now, more than ever, parents need to be positive and express support. If you have issues with the coach or other parents that need to be addressed, wait until the play-offs are over.
Band Together. Support the entire team by cheering for everyone, not just your child. Be an encouraging voice for every player on the field or court.
Bow out. Let the coach do his job, without interference. You may not agree with his philosophy or his style or his strategy, but as long as he is not doing anything immoral or cruel, let him coach. If you think you can do better, then put your name in for the job next year.
Brace Yourself. Post season play can be a roller coaster ride. The drama, the frustrations, the challenges, the joys--are all magnified in the play-offs.
Brush off mistakes. Help your child put errors behind him. Remind him that one person does not lose a game; a team does. This is especially hard when they make a mistake that seems to tip the game one way or the other.
Breathe Deeply. You will feel nervous. Your stomach may be in knots. Sometimes parents are more worked up than the kids. Take a deep breath, relax. This is supposed to be fun! Take pictures, enjoy every moment. These are memories you and your child will talk about for years to come.
Real Moms, Real Kids
This Week's Webisode
In this episode of Become we meet Paula. A single mom with 4 kids, Paula manages to hold down multiple jobs and be there for her kids every step of the way. Whether it's her support in sports or in schoolwork, she knows putting in time with her kids is her number one priority and she wouldn't have it any other way.
As long as he does something that’s from the heart that will make him happy, I’ll be good.
— Yolanda Bunn
Featured Authors
Other featured authors
-
Janis Meredith
Sports Parenting Writer
-
Kirk Mango
Becoming a True Champion Columnist
-
Dr. JoAnn Dahlkoetter
Performing Edge Coach & Psychologist
Do you write a blog that should be on Sideline Moms? Syndicate your blog to Sideline Moms!
pretty bad this even needs to be said.....
long island wildcats. contact me if interested in playing fallball. selden league. hodgekieth@yhoo.com
I have a question, this is my sons first year playing baseball, and I have been volunteered to be team mom, need some ideas about fundraisers and dealing with parents
The article is good. I have a 8 year old in the play-offs for the first time this year and I enjoyed the tips in the article, there are many parents who get out of control at hese intense games.
Message body
The article was great ,
This letter is in regards to Molly Mcdade Hood Last night at the central catholic high school homecoming game which was at the Hillsboro Stadium which I did not have transportation for and hitched a ride for me and my daughter Kristine Martin who is a member of the CCHS min rams , My daughter Kristine Martine whom is 9 years old was so excited about this event and could not wait for this day to happen and when it did happen she was not able to participate with the group because Ms Molly told me that she did not know the "Cheer" well Ms Molly did not tell me that the day before at practice nor did she bother to shoot me and email or phone call to inform me of that ! I am PISSED OFF on how things went down Ms Molly made my daughter sit out when all the other Cheerleaders dozens of them all ran out to the field and Kristine sat alone by herself down I the bottom pit! Watching everytime I think about it It makes me sick
This is great! We all need to remind ourselves daily.
Great article. I see and hear some ugly things from parents that they sadly mistake for "motivation". Yesterday I jumped on the low bar and did 1 glide all you gymnasts know what that is, and I felt my deltiods scream get off that thing are you crazy. i have a new found respect for these children that I watch everyday. So parents sometimes they can't just do it! It takes alot of hard work. And in the word's of coach Pete " it looks easy from the peanut gallery!"
Well put.
The article was very beneficial to me and my family members.
"married to a man..." so were you an athlete. Looks like you are hiding behind him. So much for good content here.
The army has an baseball cap touch kind of hat next year is nice & the middle with fortitude replaced beret. The army Wholesale cheap new era caps said: "the day with berets words can give a Wholesale NBA jerseys person a kind of hard picture, can make positive the broad vision, simple to wear is Baseball caps for sale also simple to walk, so will the soldiers to love."