Parents are key to success in youth

Fall is fast approaching. It’s not only back-to-school time, but also back-to-sports time, when thousands of South Shore children can be found on football, soccer, lacrosse and even baseball and softball fields. And in equal or greater numbers, their parents can be found on the bleachers or on the sidelines cheering them on — or yelling at them.

A child’s positive or negative experience is often dictated by his or her parents. Moms and dads are generally patient with their children with reading or music or just about any other activity, but when it comes to sports, parents’ competitive natures often take hold and they just lose it.

Moms and dads too often can be found shouting at their children over a dropped or missed ball. Why?

Too many parents, it seems, believe that youth sports can eventually lead to lucrative college scholarships, so they pressure their kids to succeed. Or perhaps it’s a matter of pride. They see their children as reflections of themselves in a public arena. That is, when their children make mistakes in front of a crowd, they’re embarrassing the family.

Parents must understand that less than 2 percent of all high school student-athletes go on to receive athletic scholarships at Division I colleges and universities, according to the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Chances are, therefore, that your child won’t earn a free ride to school via sports. Better that he or she focus on academics. If your child falls in love with a sport and eventually earns a scholarship, great. In the meantime, just enjoy watching him or her compete and have fun with friends.

And remember that making mistakes is part of the learning process. Your children will mess up in front of other parents and their coaches. So what? Twenty-five years from now, your kids will have long forgotten their mistakes — if they’re treated with the right dose of understanding and instruction by Mom and Dad. If you yell, your kids will likely never forget their errors — and how you addressed them.

The benefits of youth sports to a child — and to society — are enormous.

Involvement in youth sports has been shown in lots of studies to reduce drug use, teen pregnancy, truancy and vandalism. Through sports, children learn leadership and goal-setting while staying fit and healthy.

For more information on how to help your child get and stay involved in youth sports, go to the Positive Coaching Alliance website, positivecoach.org.