How to Strike the Parent/Coach Balance

Coaching your kid can be a tricky terrain to navigate. While you may have the best of intentions, it is often difficult to separate your preexisting biases from what’s best for the team. And with other parents watching your every move, you will have plenty of witnesses ready to condemn your slightest error.

But that is not to suggest it’s the wrong thing to do. You might just be the best person for the job - based on experience, time constraints or knowledge of the game. Just know that you need to be extra careful not to play favorites in either direction. There are plenty of resources available on sports websites, but here are a few tips to take note of:

Your kid might not be the best player…

Some parents have a difficult time recognizing their young athlete’s deficiencies, even when they are glaringly obvious. You cannot have blinders on because the team could suffer as a result of your bias. Plus, your youngster could be the target of teammate jealousy or nastiness if he or she is the recipient of unfair favor. It might be a good idea to have an assistant on hand to manage substitutions during the game, if applicable.

…but he or she might not be the worst, either

On the other hand, some parents highlight every possible mistake or flaw in their child’s game, which is equally unfair to the player and the team. It is often with the best intentions that these parents nitpick each aspect of the player’s abilities, but it is also a detrimental activity when performed by the coach. Most players need to have confidence to succeed and they cannot possibly attain that if they are constantly looking over their shoulders hoping for approval.

Wear two hats…

…a parent one and a coaching one. When practice starts, try to see your kid as just one of the players on your team - or better yet, treat each of the players as though he or she is your own. When you get home, you can explain your thought process to your son or daughter and reinforce how much he or she means to you. but on the playing field or court, it is best to distribute your pride and concern among each of your athletes equally.

Not everyone can do it, but coaching your child has the potential to be immensely rewarding. Then, you can use sports software to build a website and share your knowledge with other aspiring coaches.