What First-Time Youth Sports Parents Should Expect: A Beginner’s Guide
Getting involved in youth sports for the first time can be both exciting and overwhelming. As a first-time youth sports parent, you are entering a world filled with early morning excitement, team bonding, and a whole lot of sideline cheering! While the focus is on fun, development, and teamwork, there are a few things every new sports parent should know before the season begins. Follow our guide to basic youth sports concepts:
Youth Sports are About Development, Not Just Winning
One of the most important things to remember as a first time sports parent, is that youth sports are primarily about learning and growth, not trophies. For many kids, these early years are their first experience with organized competition, so the emphasis should be on developing basic skills, learning rules, and having fun.
If you put too much emphasis on the score and the outcome of the game, you create a stressful environment that young kids likely will not enjoy. They will begin to feel pressure to win at all costs and get down on themselves for not winning. This deters their young minds away from playing sports and pushes them to quit sooner. Kids play sports for the fun, not the score!
Communication is Key for All Youth Sports Parents
Good communication is key not just on the field, but on the sidelines. Communicating with your child before and after games is an often overlooked, but important piece of youth sports. This allows you to understand how your child may be feeling before or after a game.
For example, if your child is feeling nervous before a game, you can help reassure them. You can also talk to them after the game when they’ve had a minute to process and see how they think it went. The important part is to not immediately turn these conversations into a lecture or critique of your child. Though parents are tempted to give immediate feedback, it’s important to let your athlete voice their thoughts and reactions so you can meet them where they’re at, this creates a positive environment and helps motivate them to keep playing.
Youth Sports Parenting can be a Community
One unexpected benefit of becoming a sports parent is the sense of community that comes with it. You will start to recognize familiar faces on the sidelines and may even develop new friendships with the other parents. Getting involved, whether as a coach or scorekeeper, can enrich your child’s experience and make the season more exciting for both of you!
Your Child May Try and Quit, And That’s Okay
Not every child will fall in love with sports right away. Some may want to try multiple sports before settling on one they enjoy. Others may decide they are not interested in team sports at all. Trying different sports helps kids discover their passions, develop a variety of skills, and learn life skills such as commitment and follow-through. Encourage your child to give each season their best effort, but don’t be afraid to step back if it’s just not the right fit for them. Remember, youth sports is about the kids.
Becoming a youth sports parent is a rewarding experience. The most important thing is to be present, stay positive, and remember that sports are meant to be fun! Support your child, encourage teamwork, and enjoy the ride. You are building memories that will last a lifetime—that’s what really matters.
Ready to be a Youth Sports Parent, Finally?
At i9 Sports®, we offer multiple youth sports for ages 3-14. Choose from flag football, t-ball, soccer, basketball, volleyball and more! If a league sounds too intimidating, we offer camps and clinics for those who want to try youth sports before diving in completely. Whether you and your child are rookies or veterans, we have a program for you!
Find your local i9 Sports® and sign up today!
