How to Be a Good Sports Parent

Whether your kids are in soccer, baseball, gymnastics or swimming, when you are a sports mom or dad you are in a great position to help your children develop more than just athletic abilities. Use these guidelines to help both of you get the most from the experience.

Think before you sign the form. Barring anything unforeseen, will your son or daughter be able to make enough of the practices and games? When an athlete only shows up on rare occasions, the rest of the team suffers because of their poor performance. If your schedule can't accommodate the sport, don't sign up for it.

Model the behavior you want to see. Be respectful of coaches, players, referees and other parents. Show your child what it means to be a good winner and a good loser.

Let the coaches do their job. Believe it or not, they are doing the best that they can. Don't micromanage your child's performance or nitpick the coaches' decisions. If you think you could do better, volunteer to help.

Be responsible. If it is your day to take the snacks or drinks, make sure that the goodies get there. Don't let the team down.

Be reliable. Make sure your child gets to every practice and competition on time, in uniform and with all the supplies he or she needs.

Don't make it a chore. Face your parental obligations cheerfully. Don't make your child feel guilty about being involved with their sport. In the end, you were the one who signed the release forms and paid the registration fee. Even if you don't enjoy attending the games or shuttling your athlete to practice, don't treat the tasks like annoying chores. If you are enthusiastic, your child will be too.

Don't get carried away. Don't put too much pressure on your child to perform at a certain level. Praising achievement over effort tends to encourage children not to face new challenges because they worry that they won't succeed. Focus on the improvement the child made over the season rather than how many points they scored in a single game.

Remember the goals. The goals of organized sports for younger children are to have fun, improve fitness and develop skills. Try to treat the activity as a learning experience. Help your child form good technique, even if it means they don't hit the ball as far or swim as fast in the short term.

Sports can be a fun and healthy activity for the entire family, or it can end in frustration and tears. Ultimately, the parents are the ones who decide which way the experience goes.