Advice For Travel Ball Parents

Having had my DD play Travel Ball for several years and for a couple different organizations I am still amazed by the behavior of some parents who seem to do more to prevent thier childs growth rather than help to foster it. So I have a few suggestions for THOSE parents.

1. We all know your daughter is a good player or she wouldn't be on the team
2. If you must speak badly about another player or the coaches don't do it in front of your DD
3. It takes 9 to play, you win together and lose together. Your daughter can't play by herself
4. If you are going to constantly contradict her coaches instruction please form your own team
5. Just because she plays (fill in position) on her in house team doesn't mean she will play it on the travel team
6. Playing time is earned through hard work, it is not a right because you paid $XXX to be on this team
7. If you have a problem speak to the coaches directly, don't piss and moan in the bleachers
8. Make the most of your experience, kids will grow up quick, memories last forever
9. Teach your DD's to compete with class, they will follow your example
10. When the tourney is over let it be over. Don't make your DD replay every minute of the weekend on the ride home!

Feel free to add any I may have overlooked ?;D

WOW!

I totally agree.

Its the memories folks, good and bad!

KUDOS to softball9er...great insight!

This one needs to stay on TOP!

One of the best post I have seen in a while! Good job

Mike

Most of all have fun and injoy the time spent with your DD

Great Post!!!!!! [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

Holy smokes... a parent who gets it.

Thanks for a dose of REALITY...AMEN!

Best post ever!!!!!

How appropriate. I pasted it to a new doc and printed a copy for myself.

Thanks!

Wow!! Great advice for all parents!! Hope we all listen!!

What does it mean when someone replies, "ttt"?

To The Top....

Great Post! only thing I could add is

It's all about the girls - not the parents. We just get the pleasure of being there.

Great post. I am stealing it with pride!

The last couple of weekends it seems like I've seen a lot of teams come up short of players so I will add a number 11 to this great list:

11. When you commit to the team, commit to the team. Coaches and teammates count on your DD to be at practices and games. Make sure she is there, or let the coach know in advance if she has to miss so plans can be made to replace her temporarily.

Very well said!

It is amazing how as the girls get older the parents get wiser and more quiet. Watched a 10u pool game over the weekend and you would of thought it was the championship. And the older teams you for the most part just hear the girls. ;D Great Post!!

AMEN..

Adding on to #2....If you feel you need to speak poorly of other players or coaches, don't do it loudly on the cell phone while sitting in the middle of the parents whose DD's you are talking about.

AND...

#12. If you feel that your DD is the only player on the team working hard - get a clue, get real and get another team.
#13. When your DD fields an easily playable ball, don't carry on like she single handedly made a triple play. She simply did her job.
#14. When your DD misses an easily playable ball, don't blame every other girl on the field, the coach, or make excuses (that was so&so's/if the coach hadn't moved her over 1 step she would have had that one/her ankle, knee, little toe hurts). She's a kid and she made a mistake - they will all do it - she's no different.

I bet you've figured it out by now that we have a couple of parents on my DD's team that need a serious reality check.

'Sideline' Rage Triggers Mirror Those of Angry Drivers
Parents who rant at kids' sporting events let ego get in the way, study says
-- Robert Preidt


MONDAY, July 7 (HealthDay News) -- People who are prone to road rage are also more likely to rant and rave while watching their children play sports, says a U.S. study.

Ego defensiveness, one of the triggers of road rage, also causes "sideline rage," said researcher Jay Goldstein, a kinesiology doctoral student at the University of Maryland School of Public Health.

He observed parents at youth soccer games in suburban Washington, D.C., and concluded that parents become angry when there's an apparent challenge to their ego.

"When they perceived something that happened during the game to be personally directed at them or their child, they got angry. That's consistent with findings on road rage," Goldstein said in a prepared statement.

He also found that control-oriented parents were far more likely to take something personally and explode than autonomy-oriented parents, who take greater responsibility for their own behavior.

"In general, control-oriented people are the kind who try to 'keep up with the Joneses.' They have a harder time controlling their reactions. They more quickly become one of 'those' parents than the parents who are able to separate their ego from their kids and events on the field," Goldstein said.

But even autonomy-controlled parents can get angry due to ego-defensiveness.

"While they're more able to control it, once they react to the psychological trigger, the train has already left the station," Goldstein said.

The study was published in the June issue of Applied Social Psychology.

Goldstein offered some tips to help parents keep their cool if they feel their anger rising while watching their children play sports:

Controlled deep breathing exercises -- inhale for four seconds and exhale for eight seconds.
Suck on a lollipop. It will keep your mouth busy and remind you that you're there for your child.
Visualize a relaxing experience, such as floating on water.
Do yoga-like stretching exercises.
Replace angry thoughts with rational thoughts, such as "This is my child's game, not mine," or "Mistakes are opportunities to learn."
Don't say the first thing that pops into your head. Count to 10 and think about possible responses.
If you didn't see the game, first ask your child "How did you play?" rather than "Did you win?"
Praise your child's efforts. Then, maybe, comment on the results.
Use harmless humor -- not harsh or sarcastic humor -- to defuse angry feelings.
More information

The Nemours Foundation explains how parents can teach children about sportsmanship.

More About Mental Health on MSN Health & Fitness

Great Advice. This is on target!