• Follow the Golden Rule
  • Always treat others (coaches, parents, officials and players) the same way you would want you and your child to be treated.
  • Set the example by showing respect, dignity and total sportsmanship at all times.
• Act Your Age
  • Youth Athletics are for the kids.
  • Remember, your childhood is over, so if you find yourself becoming too emotionally involved in what’s happening during play, take a step back, count to ten and relax.
  • Give the young players freedom to enjoy their childhood.
• Be Responsible
  • Get your children to practice and games on time, with their uniform, footwear and other necessary equipment.
  • Help your children to eat before the game, and drink plenty of liquids during and after the game.
• Be Seen, Not Heard
  • It is very important for a young player to have their parents on hand to watch them play.
  • Nothing is worse for a player than hearing a parent booing or screaming negative comments at, or about, others.
  • Offer applause and cheers of encouragement for both teams following a good play or effort, but otherwise keep quiet.
• Help Make it Fun
  • Keep Smiling.
  • Encourage enjoyment and participation over stats and results.
  • If any child is not having fun, something is wrong.
• Motivated Through Confidence
  • Identify a positive from every game or practice to help build confidence.
  • A young player’s sense of achievement is the greatest motivator.
• Don’t Question an Official’s Call
  • Though you may not agree with a call, it is not your job (or the players’ or coaches’ either) to officiate a game.
  • Never should an official’s call be argued by anyone. Accept the call and move on.
• If You Must, Talk with the Coach After the Game
  • Or better yet, wait for 24 hours if you have an issue with how the coach is running the team.
  • Let the heat of the moment pass. Never make a scene in front of the team as it is embarrassing for you, your children, other children and the coach. And chances are likely that nothing will get resolved.
• Put Winning and Losing into Perspective
  • As in life, games have winners and losers. Remind your children of this fact and the need to deal with both outcomes in an appropriate and acceptable manner.
  • Young players should avoid becoming arrogant or conceited when they win. In the same manner, young players should avoid becoming too upset or depressed when they lose.
• Avoid the Post Analysis.
  • Let your child come to you for advice. It will have more of an impact than you going to them.
  • Avoid analyzing your child’s performance following every game. If you do, chances are your children will avoid talking to you at all after games, or even worse, not want you at the games at all.

Know Your Role:

• Be a positive and encouraging supporter, cheer for good plays on both teams.
• If you are not the coach, don’t shout out instructions.
• If you are not the official, don’t offer opinions on a particular call.
• Your child will look to you when it comes to keep everything in perspective.

Keep It Fun:

• Emphasize skill development, not winning and maintain realistic expectations.
• Stay positive and avoid criticizing your child’s (or any other child for that matter) performance.
• Keep in mind