IMPORTANCE OF PARENT-COACH RELATIONSHIP IN YOUTH SPORTS

THE IMPORTANCE OF PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT IN YOUTH SPORTS

It is not surprising that research overwhelmingly points to a connection between positive, supportive parental involvement and a child’s level of enjoyment and success in the sport he or she is involved in.

It has also been suggested that a moderate level of involvement would be the optimum level of parental involvement. 

Parents who are over-involved may create high level of pressure, while uninvolved parents do not provide enough support to facilitate a child’s desire to participate in sport,but those parents who are moderately involved seem to provide just the right balance not only to facilitate enjoyment, but also to challenge the child to continue to grow and develop his or her skills. On the surface, this theory seems to hold up. Without support, especially financial and emotional one,it would be very difficult for a child to be able to participate in sport while the pressure from the parent who is over-involved could easily take out all the enjoyment of playing sports.

ROLE OF PARENTS IN YOUTH SPORTS

Parents, when it comes to the impact you have on your child’s sporting experience, do not underestimate your influence. Children learn from watching others and emulating the behavior they see demonstrated.Most often the parent is the first to introduce a child to sports, and parental involvement can affect whether a child enjoys the experience or not.

Encouraging parent engagement is more than common courtesy. It’s one of the best ways to create a positive learning environment for every children.

Parents who are genuinely interested in their kids’ sporting activities are in a good position to provide support or find outside help if they notice a child is struggling. They also build connections with their children as they share excitement over their successes and help them work through disappointments.

ROLE OF COACHES IN YOUTH SPORTS

Coaches who focus on parent engagement often see a profound change in their activities. The more parents involved in their children’s activities, the better their entire activities motivation, behavior, and results become.

Parent involvement in child’s sporting career is the first step to parent engagement and, ultimately, parent partnership. When parents and Coaches work together to establish a thriving platform, the effect on their children is profound.  Parent-Coach relationship is more than an optional track benefit. They are key to helping children reach their personal and track level potentials. If we as coaches don’t make a space for parent partnerships in our sports, we’re limiting our sporting's capacity for growth.

Children aren’t the only ones who benefit from family engagement: parents and coaches do, too. Coaches can prepare parents to help with homework or sports concepts. And engaged parents tend to think highly of coaches, which increases the coach’s  morale. Knowing more about an athlete’s family life can also help coaches prepare session that better fit the athlete’s needs or interact more efficiently with families. When parents and coaches team up, everyone wins!

SUPPORTIVE PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT IN SPORTS

It’s neither the socioeconomic status nor how prestigious the family a child comes from but the extent to which the family encourages,motivates learning at home and there involvement In the child’s sporting activity.

It’s never too late to build the foundations for parent-coach communication in sports. But the sooner you do, the better equipped your athlete will be in reaching their sporting potential.

By Coach Abdulhakeem Idris