A wit once observed that good judgment comes from experience, and experience usually comes from bad judgment. In other words, we developed an awareness of the emotions inherent to youth sports and how they were affecting our kids. Our role quickly became one of helping them maintain perspective, develop self-esteem and respond appropriately to various challenges. Indeed, controlling our own emotions played decisively into how well our family coped with youth sports. My emotions often ran highest, not when I played ball, but when I watched my kids play their own sports.
Sports generate a lot of emotions, both good and bad.
Usually, the bad are expressed in painfully negative ways. It has become common to hear parents arguing with coaches, yelling obscenities, picking fights with referees or belittling their own kids. Initially, most parents approach sports with the best of intentions. But such intentions can quickly go wrong. Because others often judge us by our accomplishments, many adults apply those same expectations to their children.