Is your child involved with youth basketball? If so, you need to create an environment where they feel easy and unpressurized. Such an environment is vital for a child’s health and performance. To create this environment, you as a parent need to have great discipline. Here are a few tips on how you will do that.
1. Don’t discuss immediately after a game
After a game ends, players go back home in their cars with their parents. During the ride from the court to their home, some parents like to discuss the game. They have good intentions; however, these post-game discussions are not great for the children. They have just finished a game, so they need to rest. Most parents start talking about what different their child could’ve done to perform better to win the game. They start pointing out their child’s mistakes during the match and how they missed one chance that could’ve turned the tide of the game. Parents do not mean it, but this post-game can really ruin the fun for a lot of the kids. If you want to discuss the game, make sure you do when your child has settled down and has rested enough. You can try to comfort players after a game, however, do not over-do it.
2. Do not make yourself look perfect
This is a really common issue with parents. Most parents who play sports give their own examples to their children. They act as a great player and think that their child is getting impressed. However, the truth is that most children do not like it when you put it this way. In fact, many children start rolling their eyes in disappointment and embarrassment. Although these parents want to help their children learn through their experiences, they make it sound like they are boasting about themselves. So how do you do it? Well, the best way is to teach with the intention to teach. There is a big difference between teaching your child and showing off. Do not boast about yourself; you can give your examples, but only if they add in a good context.
3. Don’t scream during the game
Although most parents are sensible enough not to shout or be loud during games, some energetic parents do like to be aggressive. Whenever they think the referees made a mistake, they will scream at them and oppose them. Or they will tell the coach what to do. No one on the court likes this behaviour. The referees, coaches, and players all want a game where they can focus. The loudness will take their focus away. If you do want to be loud, be loud while praising your child. Please support them by cheering them on. Applaud any good plays made by either of the team and set a great example of how parents are supposed to be during games.
4. Do not interfere during a game
There are a lot of parents who are quite enthusiastic and want their child to succeed no matter what. Their enthusiasm is shown when they start yelling about what their children are supposed to do. They start telling their child exactly what to do, play by play and ball by ball. They scream to let them know whom to pass, when to shoot, etc. This attitude is neither appreciated by the crowd of people around you nor by your child who wants to focus and have fun in the game. Let your child play the game without you guiding them.
5. Be frank with your child
There is literally no reason for a parent to be strict on their child for a sport. Let the child play sports and have some fun. If during the process, your child becomes a better player and starts winning games, that’s great. However, if your child starts losing games time and time again, and you can notice a drop in their performance, support them. Let your children feel no pressure, and they will get back on track in no time. Also, make sure when your child loses, you act the same way as when your child wins a game. Children can pick up on how their parents feel about their performance just by looking at the expressions. This can also pressurize them. Maintaining how you react after a win or loss can really determine whether you are pressurizing your child or not.
