Children’s sport. The phrase which can make parents shiver in fear, worry and with excitement. The letting go of our dreams of being a VNL netballer, Australian Open victor, AFL grand finalist, sharp clay shooter …..and the list goes on, can consume us. I turn up to kids sport and I see hopes, dreams and sharp eyes – that’s just the parents. I see crying kids, too anxious to go on. I see cocky little mongrels with hair gelled up or pulled up in perky, exquisite braids which really improve their performance. I see lay ups, shots at goals, drop kicks, warrior arms and somersaults with double feet landing.
I see darting looks at who is scoring, watching, coaching, walking past; who is sitting together; who is not. The school yard politics are more prescient here and we all yearn for an inclusive, warm environment. A place to cocoon our kids and teach them about team work, good sportsmanship and cooperation. We get disappointed with ugly faces, scorn directed at volunteer umpires, coaches, participants and other children who don’t fulfil the roles we expect of them. Sometime even with our own.
The sense of loss can be a piece of week old bread in our mouth – hard to chew, harder to swallow. All our experiences flood us and this forms the foundation of the hopes for our kids. Winning, camaraderie and enjoyment – they all exist in the sporting arena. Some of it comes down to values. We want what we didn’t have for our kids. We want what we did have for our kids and we strive to make this a reality for them. At times, making sport a living hell for them and no better for us.
Top tips:
1) Decide on what type of sporting parent you want to be and why. At least then you know what’s driving you in terms of how you support, participate and promote kids sport in your own family.
2) Think about your hopes for your child in sport – ask yourself, do your actions and words support these?
3) Fun – think about if you are having it. And is your child having it?
Parenting and paper cuts. 