Your Child Athlete's Attire

Spring is here, and your child athlete is playing on a new soccer, lacrosse, hockey, or baseball team. Do they need the optional team shorts or sweatsuit? Do they need a matching bag or new equipment? Where do you draw the line?

Many of us ask ourselves these questions in the beginning of a new sports season. The good news is that most of our children are in the same position. At the beginning of a season, many child athletes are starting out on newly formed athletic teams. Even if a team isn't new, there are always some changes to the roster when a new season begins.

Although it can get costly, we have occasionally bought our children the little extras that come with being part of a team. No, they don't need another t-shirt, but a team t-shirt can make your child proud. It's good to give our children that feeling of importance, but remember that you need to buy every item available.

We have interviewed many high-level athletes, and the bottom line for many of them is team work and learning to be part of a team. Team work is on the field, but should transfer over to off the field. If the team wears matching blue socks or carries purple bags, then go ahead, and teach your child that it's fun to join in.

Preparing Your Child for Tryouts

As we head into the spring, many of our children will be trying out for travel teams in various sports, including soccer, baseball, and even hockey. How do you prepare your child for tryouts? Should you prepare your child for tryouts?

With our three children we look for the following signs to determine if they're ready to tryout for travel teams:

• Your child shows a desire to tryout for a travel team. This includes the child specifically requesting to tryout.
• Your child works hard in their sport; therefore, advancing to a higher level team is a good idea.
• Your child is talented in a sport. Keep in mind if they are talented, then you want to make sure they are challenged by putting them on the appropriate level team.

Tips on preparing your child for tryouts:

• Make your child aware that they will have to work hard at a tryout to earn a position on a team.
• Let your child know that if the put forward one-hundred percent effort and don't make the team, it's OK. Effort is the key.
• Tell your child that whether they make a team or not, it's important to set goals and to keep trying to earn a spot on a team. It might just take another year of practice to earn a spot on a travel team, and children need to follow their passions and work hard to get where they want to be.

In interviewing high-level athletes, almost all of the athletes stress the importance of applying one-hundred percent effort in sports. Most of these athletes are impressed by a not so talented player who exerts one-hundred percent effort.

Let your child know that you support them. Encourage your child. And, most importantly, have your child follow their passions in sports.

When to Start Your Child in Sports

I recently spoke to a group of parents who wanted to know what's the appropriate age to introduce organized athletics to their child. Of course, there is no absolutely "right" answer, but I have some guidelines:

1. Look for your child should express an interest in a sport. For example, if they enjoy kicking around the soccer ball in the yard and they participate well in group situations, such as preschool, then consider joining the appropriate local soccer team for their age group.

2. Vary the sports. I believe that preschool and elementary age children should be introduced to multiple sports so a parent will be able to observe their child and learn what the child's true passions are. If you introduce swimming for a session, then gymnastics, then a soccer team in the spring, a parent might notice their child enjoying one sport over another.

3. Encourage playing all sports in the yard or park as much as possible. I have interviewed many high-level athletes, and they often state that they begin their children in sports at older ages than most parents in today's world. These athletes do not see an urgency to have their children in organized sports in preschool or even the first years of elementary school.

Always look for your child's natural talents in a sport, but remember that your child should express a passion to participate too.

Steps for Your Child's Team's Success

The following advice was recently recommended to us:

1. We would like to gently remind parents about coaching from the stands. The players are at an age where they need to read and react to the play before them on the ice. They will become better players as they develop this skill.
2. We suggest curfew times on each specific game. If there is an early start, being in bed before 10pm the night before is probably the best for the kids.
3. We recommend that parents give coaches a say in planning events and outings for a team. Sometimes an event might be considered interferring with timing of a game, and this can lead to poor performance. When families have travelled far for a tournament, good effort is appreciated by the families, the children, and the coaches.
4. We suggest pre game arrival times and provide a countdown until the start of game to help the kids establish appropriate habits and start to focus. (Children need to prepare and get focused before a game.)
5. Establish a player oath saying something to the effect of: “I will always perform as best as I can, and I will always expect that my teammate will perform the best that they can”. Every child will make mistakes – kids getting down on kids is an unfortunate area of child development that will occur. Our responsibility as the adult is to set the example in our homes (or on the car ride home) as well as be present when situations like this are likely to occur. (After games: if an adult is present, the likelihood of a child putting down another child is less likely to occur. But in the event it does occur the adult can redirect the conversation back to the oath established.
6. Many teams have a lot of great qualities within the players and families. Meshing those qualities for a positive result is extremely tough. Parents and players need to trust and respect each other and the coaches.

Ultimately, we want our children to have success in athletics and success in life. Use this advice to guide them towards success.

Be responsible sports parents...

Are you a responsible sports parent? Do you cheer for your team? Do you encourage the team to keep trying even when they're behind? Are you friendly while sitting in the stands?

At a tournament last weekend, many parents were screaming so loud it was embarrassing for the team. They were arguing with other parents and yelling at the players. Is this good for our children, not to mention the team?

Think about your child. They're out there trying their hardest, and at the same time they're cringing because their mom or dad are yelling so loudly that no one is watching the game anymore.

How do you think they feel? Is this motivating them to do better or try harder?If you want to yell, don't yell at your child. Yell words of encouragement and support. Yell for your team and for your child. Here's a few examples:

• Good teamwork!
• Keep trying!
• Way to work hard!
• Nice passing!
• Good block!

Next time you want to yell, try a nice comment. Your child and coaches will appreciate it!