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1) During car rides to games or practice, kids don't
want you to tell them how to do this or that. "I am not stupid,"
said one 12-year-old. "I know how to play the sport I play.
2) Kids can get psyched for a game without your help. "I hate
when parents say, 'Are you ready? We're going to win,' like they're
playing said one kid.
3) It's your duty as a parent to sit quietly and watch your kid
do wonderful things. Kids get bummed out when you miss games or
yak it up too much with friends in the stands. "We're sweating
and playing the game, and they're busy socializing," complained
one girl.
4) If you don't know what you're talking about, kids don't want
you to talk. Typical comments: "Parents think they know the
rules, but they don't." "My mom asks annoying questions."
And "I hate when my mom tells me to do things even when she
doesn't know the first thing about sports."
5) Even if you do know what you're talking about, kids don't want
you to talk (unless you're the coach). "I hate when parents
tell us to do the exact opposite of what the coaches say,"
said one child. Added another: "If your parent isn't the coach,
he or she shouldn't try to be one.
6) Kids wish you would practice what you preach about sportsmanship.
"My mom always wants me to be a 'good sport,' but a lot of
the time she blames the loss on the ref," claimed one kid.
"Arguing with the refs is not only embarrassing, but it takes
up time," said another.
7) Kid's often can't hear you yelling when they're concentrating
on the game. Sometimes, they can. Either way, they don't like it.
"Parents yell advice you don't hear because you're so into
playing the game. Afterward they say, 'Why didn't you listen to
me?'" complained one child. Said others: "I feel embarrassed
when my parents yell so loud that the whole town can hear,"
and "They yell and scream and look like dorks."
8) After they lose, kids don't want to be told it doesn't matter.
Typical reactions: "I hate when we get knocked out of the playoffs
and my parents say, 'You'll get them next time!'" and "When
parents try to cheer you up after a loss, al they do is remind you
of the score."
9) After they lose, kids don't want to be told that it does matter.
"Parents take losses harder than we do," wrote one boy.
Advised one girl: "You win some, you lose some, no big deal!
Get over it!"
10) Kids just want to have fun. Parents just don't get this, kids
say. Many kids say they would rather play on a losing team than
sit on the bench on a winning one. Some would like to skip practice
once in a while. "The thing that bugs me the most is that my
parents take it too seriously," summed up one child. "They
act like it's school."
Editor's Note: Received handout as a parent in a packet
from one of my son's coaches. I am not exactly sure where he got
it but I think it was from "Sports Illustrated for Kids".
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