ROLES IN SPORTS
When parents stop and analyze the athletic experience for their children, the reasons they want their kids to play sports involve providing an opportunity to develop physically, emotionally and to enjoy.
The side-benefits of playing sports include giving kids a good opportunity to learn how to work and get along with others, to take good risks in a public arena and survive, to learn to set and achieve goals by developing positive work habits, to learn how to succeed and fail with dignity, and develop friendships outside the family unit that last a lifetime.
Player’s role | Coach’s Role | Parent’s Role |
• Play the game for fun • Be gracious when you win and graceful when you lose • Respect and abide by the rules of the game • Put the team above yourself in every situation • Accept decisions made by those in authority • Demonstrate respect to your opponents, coaches and teammates • Be accountable for your own actions • Develop a teachable spirit that allows you to take correction as a compliment • Accept and embrace the discipline involved in athletics, because it benefits the team • Develop a feeling of pride, based upon “shared joy” of the team, and do not have pride that emanates from arrogance or a sense of entitlement |
• Coach for the love of the game and the love of the athlete • Put the welfare of your athletes above winning • Accept and abide by the judgement of the officials and rules of the game as “mutual agreements” required to play within the spirit of the game • Reward effort and behavior instead of outcome • Give dignity to mistakes made with full speed and attention • Lead with character and by example • Put the needs of the team ahead of any individual • Constantly work to improve your knowledge of the game and your ability to teach the game to your athletes • Be willing to confront incorrect behavior or less than an all-out effort • Encourage multiple-sport participation • Keep the game simple and fun • Be willing to work with parents for the benefit of the individual athlete • Develop a positive- demanding coaching style • Be a model, not a critic, model appropriate behavior, poise and confidence |
• Attend as many games as possible • Do everything possible to make the athletic experience positive for your child and others • View the game with TEAM goals in mind • Attempt to relieve competitive pressure, not increase it • Encourage multiple-sport participation • Release your children to the coach and to the team • Look upon opponents as friends involved in the same experience • Accept the judgement of the officials and coaches, remain in control • Accept the results of each game, do not make excuses • Demonstrate losing and winning with dignity • Dignify mistakes made by athletes who are giving their best effort and concentration • Be an encourager – encourage athletes to keep their perspective in both victory and defeat • Be a good listener • Accept the goals, roles and achievements of your child |
Used with Bruce Brown’s permission (www.proactivecoaching.info)
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