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How to be a Great Sports Parent: 7 Useful Tips for a Holistic Approach to Sports Parenting

Sarah McGee

Starting a new sport can be a big moment for kids and their families. As a parent, your role in guiding and supporting your child through this process is extremely important. Here are seven key tips to help make the journey smoother and more enjoyable for both you and your young athlete.





1. Fuel Their Performance with a Healthy Diet


Nutrition is a foundational area of focus for young athletes. It’s important to make sure they’re eating well-balanced meals, with plenty of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains. Hydration is equally important. Pre-game snacks and meals should be light but energizing—think bananas, nuts, or a small serving of pasta.



2. Understand Your Role as a Sports Parent


Knowing when to be hands-on and when to step back is key. Avoid over-coaching or adding unnecessary pressure. Instead, support from the sidelines by encouraging positive habits. We suggest checking out the Positive Coaching Alliance, which promotes a focus on effort, improvement, and good sportsmanship.

Here are some ideas for how to support positively:


  • Cheer for Effort, Not Just Outcome: Rather than only celebrating wins or goals, praise your child for their hard work, perseverance, and teamwork. For example, after a game, say, "I loved how you kept going even when things got tough" or "You showed great teamwork by passing the ball to your teammate!"


  • Be a Calm and Consistent Presence: Children often look to their parents for cues on how to react to both successes and failures. Stay calm during games, and avoid visibly showing frustration or disappointment when things don’t go as planned. Being a steady, positive presence helps them stay grounded.


  • Ask Open-Ended Questions Post-Game: Instead of giving feedback right away, ask your child how they felt about their performance. Questions like, "What was the best part of the game for you?" or "What do you think you did really well today?" help them reflect on their experiences.


  • Encourage a Growth Mindset: Remind your child that every practice and game is an opportunity to improve. Phrases like, "You're getting better with each practice!" or "I saw improvement in your footwork today!" help reinforce that success is a journey, not a destination.


  • Help Them Set Realistic Goals: Sit down with your child and talk about what they hope to achieve in their sport. These goals should focus on personal improvement, such as "I want to improve my dribbling" or "I want to learn how to communicate better with my teammates," rather than just winning or scoring points.


  • Celebrate Sportsmanship: Praise your child when they show kindness, respect, or teamwork. Saying things like, "I saw you helping your teammate when they fell—that was really great" teaches them that being a good teammate is just as important as performing well.


  • Stay Involved: Participate in their sports journey without making it about your experience. You can help by driving them to practices, ensuring they have nutritious snacks, or even playing catch or kicking a ball around together for fun—not as a coaching opportunity, but as a bonding activity.


  • Model Resilience in Your Reactions: When things don’t go as planned (a missed shot or a lost game), model how to handle disappointment by keeping your comments constructive. For example, "It’s okay that today wasn’t your best game—you’ll learn from this for next time."


By supporting your child in these ways, you create a positive environment that helps them grow, enjoy the sport, and develop important life skills.


3. Embrace the Philosophy of Project Play


Project Play encourages keeping sports fun and engaging for kids, regardless of their skill level. Their emphasis is on multi-sport participation and long-term enjoyment rather than early specialization. You can help your child by encouraging a love of physical activity instead of pushing for one focus too soon.


4. Positive Coaching Makes All the Difference


Seek programs or leagues that emphasize positive coaching. A coach who is motivational, patient, and focuses on development (rather than just winning) can shape your child’s athletic and personal growth. Ask other parents or attend a practice session to see if the coaching style aligns with your values.


Tip: You can encourage your child to visualize themselves succeeding on the field or court to boost confidence! Check out our activity, Visualize Yourself - Basketball and Visualize Yourself - Soccer.





6. Plan Ahead and Build an Organized Schedule


Sports practices, games, and family time can add up quickly. Once you receive the season’s calendar, get everything scheduled as early as possible. This helps manage the logistics of practices and games while keeping family time intact. Don’t forget to include time for rest and recovery, which is just as important.


Tip: Use a family calendar to coordinate everyone's activities and avoid schedule conflicts.


7. Encourage a Balanced Lifestyle


It’s easy for sports to become the center of a child’s world, but it’s important to maintain a balance with school, hobbies, and family time. Encourage downtime and play so that sports stay  fun and don’t become overwhelming. This is where rest, relaxation, and emotional recovery come in—helping kids maintain a healthy relationship with sports.


Tip: Suggest ways for your child to relax and stay creative, whether it’s through art, music, or simply spending time with friends. Check out our activity Belly Breathing and Freestyle Painting.


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