Go, team! Having a budding athlete as a child can be a super-gratifying experience for a parent. However, you need to make sure that your participation in your child’s sporting life is one that’s positive for everyone. There are right and wrong ways to show your support. Here are four tips on how to be the best cheering parent on the sidelines.
Don’t Be Rude
No one is more despised at a competition than a parent who is argumentative at any cost. You might think that a referee’s call regarding your child is unjust, and that’s your business. However, you should not just this as an opportunity to start yelling or getting physically aggressive. If you have a grievance, you should discuss it with the proper person in private, after the game.
Respect the Team
There’s more to the team than just your child. Even if they’re a star athlete, you should realize that they need to collaborate in order to achieve the best results possible. Don’t become agitated if another child has the ball. They too have parents who want to see their child do well. It’s all about working together when it comes to athletic competitions.
Show Compassion
You want to be a supporter for everyone on the field, court, or rink, even those on the other team. You might not be cheering for the rival team, but you also shouldn’t taunt or boo them. If someone is injured, you should be concerned and contact a doctor like Town Center Orthopaedic Associates, P.C. This is a time that should be enjoyable for everyone, whether the game is won or lost. Don’t let emotions get the best of you. It’s fine to root for your child and their team, but it shouldn’t be at the expense of your own sense of decency.
Teach Humility
Your children look up to you, and they absorb your tendencies even more than you might realize. If you’re acting in a way that’s uncooperative while watching them play, they’re going to take on those behaviors. Unsportsmanlike parents lead to unsportsmanlike children, who will feel entitled to certain things, during games, and at home. You want to show your children that pride comes not from winning but from being mature, even in the face of defeat.
We hope this has given you a great idea of how to support your children during games. Your love for them is important, and you can do so by cheering properly. By respecting the game, you are also showing even more respect for your kids.