William Penn Life, 2000 (35. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2000-05-01 / 5. szám
Child’s Play How to help your children get the most out of team sports From Better Homes and Gardens Parents come to youth sports because they care about their kids and appreciate the benefits of physical exercise and team play. However, it is possible to care too much. Here is some expert advice for keeping the youth sports experience positive—both physically and mentally. A Good Start Most experts say children should start in sports when they show a genuine, self-motivated interest. This does not mean the first step should involve organized competition. Sports consultant and retired coach Keith Zembower held his son out of organized sports until the boy was 10. He tells parents to get children grounded in skills, fundamentals and play, rather than in organized games. He admits children may fall a bit behind when the time comes for competing, but they'll catch up. Getting started means playing (note the word "play"). Encourage your child to take part in pickup games. Play catch with your daughter, kick soccer balls with your son and shoot hoops with the whole family. Jim M. Brown, a former physical education teacher and junior high, high school and college coach, agrees with Zembower. "Many kids have done everything by age 12. They've had the traveling, the trophies, the new uniforms, the cheerleaders, the all-star teams, the whole thing. What's to look forward to? So, they may end up dropping out and developing an interest in other things, some of them not good." To prevent burnout, don't overdo the rewards like extra allowance or trips to the ice cream stand. Kids who "play for pay" tend to burn out quicker and take less pleasure in playing. Team Tactics Playing on an organized team can be a wonderful experience for kids. Because of the time and energy demands, team sports can even help create closeness within the family. But that closeness can sometimes slip into excessiveness. To avoid this, Brown, as a teacher and coach, advises parents to back off some. Don't wear T-shirts saying "I am Johnny's mother." Don't go to every practice. "Part of growing up," says Brown, "is the separating process. The child should not have a mom or dad looking over the fence at every move." Parents also should watch for signs that they are projecting their own hopes and fears onto their youngster. Common signs of projection include: • Becoming overprotective. Yes, losing hurts-but probably not as What YOU Can Do ★ Deliver your child to practices and games on time. ★ Say only positive things on the sidelines and after games. ★ Be supportive, but don’t go overboard. Attend games. Cheer, don’t scream or curse. Praise, don’t preach. ★ Let the coach do the coaching. ★ Focus on effort, not winning. ★ Listen to your child, especially for signs that she doesn’t like playing a particular sport. Parents 8 Hillin Pen Life, May 2000
