Seeing your child actively engaged in sporting activities and seeing them challenge and push themselves further is always a joy for parents. Children who actively engage in sports tend to be fitter, more goal oriented and more hardworking as compared to those who aren’t. During this time, the parents play a vital role in the development that children experience. While driving your kids to and from practice and attending their sporting events might seem like a norm, there are a few parents who go the extra mile, often resulting in an overbearing attitude. We have all heard the horror stories of parents who got so involved with their children’s sports that they went ahead and did something illegal and outrageous. Not going to that extreme is easy, but understanding the fine line between support and over-intrusiveness is important.

Here are some tips for being a supportive sports parent to your child:

1. Set Good Examples

Show your child the importance of having a good routine, eating right and enjoying what they do by doing it yourself. Always practice what you preach.

2. Ask Your Child For Their Opinion

One of the biggest mistakes that parents make when putting their children into sporting activities is not asking them what they want. Only let your child be a part of a team if they want to, and don’t push them for it if they don’t want to.

3. Make Your Child’s Interests A Priority

If your child says that they have certain interests, make those a priority and try to find ways to help inculcate them into their routine. Don’t dismiss that your child has since they can end up resenting you for it.

4. Focus On The Enjoyment

A lot of parents believe that winning is the main reason for their child being in a sporting team. The focus should be on enjoyment and not on winning alone.

5. Help Them Develop Their Skills

Parents can play a large role in the development of their child’s skills. If your child has an interest in a particular sport, find ways in which they can improve their skill in it like additional training camps or a better diet.

6. Be Open To Communication

Communication is key in any kind of relationship, and being open to communication with your child is important for sports parents. Listen to what your child has to say and let them know that they can come to you and talk to you about anything.