PARENT GUIDE
The following ideas may be helpful for being a supportive parent.
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Conversations before the games
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Tell your child you love him/her regardless of the outcome.
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Tell him or her “Go for it, give it your best shot and have fun!”
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During the game
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Understand that kids are typically over-stimulated during games. The coach may be giving instructions, opponents and teammates are talking, the crowd is cheering, and the referee is blowing the whistle. To a youth sports participant, the atmosphere is much like that of a fighter pilot with enemy jets racing all around.
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Do not yell instructions to your child during the game because it only adds to the confusion. Sometimes the best thing you can do as a parent is to be quiet.
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Cheer and acknowledge good plays by both teams.
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After the game
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Thank the officials for doing a difficult job.
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Thank the coaches for their efforts. After a difficult loss, recognize that it is not a good time to question a coach.
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Thank your opponents for a good game.
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Congratulate your child and his or her teammates for their efforts.
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Compliment individual players on good plays they made in the game.
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During the car ride home
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Point out a good play your child made during the game.
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Avoid criticizing or correcting mistakes.
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Ask open-ended questions about how the game was played rather than how many points were scored.
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Here are examples of open-ended questions that might apply:
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Did you have fun?
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Did you give it your best effort?
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What did you learn from the game?
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What was the best play you made and how did it feel?
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Did you bounce back from your mistakes?
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ASC has adapted these recommendations from AYSO and recognizes the efforts and advancements made by the Positive Coaching Alliance in Honor of the Game.
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