A little advice for all of us!
For the Kids
Fun is pivotal; if it's not 'fun,' young people won't play a sport.
Skill development is a crucial aspect of fun; it is more important than winning even among the best athletes.
The most rewarding challenges of sports are those that lead to self-knowledge.
Intrinsic rewards (self-knowledge that grows out of self-competition) are more important in creating lifetime athletes than are extrinsic rewards (victory or attention from others).
For Coaches
Become a communicator (a listener and a giver of feedback).
Recognize the needs of your kids and balance your needs with theirs.
Develop perspective: remember what you were like at their age and what you could do then; don't judge the kids by what you can do now.
Remember the "truths" and plan activities with them in mind.
Seek out workshops and educational programs that teach not only sports-related skills but also communication and interpersonal skills that will help you work with parents and get the most out of your kids.
Try to work with parents and make them part of the team rather than viewing them as critics to be avoided.
For Parents
Remember the "truths" and talk to your children with them in mind. (After a game, ask about "fun," "skill improvement," "learning experiences.")
See yourself as part of the team and supportive of the coach; avoid setting up a conflict in your child's mind between his or her parents and coaches.
If you want to affect the coaching, volunteer to help.
Develop perspective: remember what you could do at your children's ages; don't judge them by what you can do now.
Develop an understanding of what your child wants from sports--not all children want the same things. Determine if he or she wants to be involved at all.
