It is our position that a parent’s job as a positive role model for their children should extend to the athletic field. Children are entering the wide world of sports at younger ages than ever before. The wide world of sports also is expanding beyond interscholastic athletics into club sports and travel teams faster than Olympic record-holder Carl Lewis ran the 100 meter. And with all the added competition, the sports crowd seems to scream louder and stronger, in particular the parents.
Maybe it’s the exorbitant cost of all this extra play time and travel or latently living out a youthful dream, but some parents are losing sight of what interscholastic athletics are all about. When parents rant and rave from the sidelines, it is not only distracting for the players, coaches and officials, it is embarrassing for their children. It ruins the sport experience for everyone. A parent’s role is to support, encourage, act as interpreter and be a positive sports parent role model for their children, according to The National Federation of High School Associations based in Indianapolis.
NFHS offers free online training courses such as The Role of Parent in Sport, Sportsmanship and Creating a Safe and Respectful Environment. Visit www.nfhslearn.com for more information.