Why it’s Important to Avoid Tension on the Sidelines

Knowing how to best support your athlete is key in creating a positive sport experience for not only your athlete, but also for their team and the rest of the parents on the sidelines supporting their athletes.

“I joke that when my daughter was playing tennis, I was just a chauffeur taking her to practice. And sometimes, that’s all kids really need you to be,” says Dr. Patrick Cohn, a sports psychologist at Peak Performance Sports. He’s only partially joking…most parents could benefit from decreasing their tension and taking a more passive role when it comes to youth sports.

“We tell parents that their only goal is to make sure that their kids are having fun. Your job is to support kids when it’s appropriate,” Cohn adds. With that in mind, here’s why and how to avoid being tense and distracting on the sidelines.

SIDELINE COACHING

Your goal as a parent may be to see your child having fun, but research has shown that sideline behavior rarely reflects that goal. “Shouting instructions from the sidelines is a major no-no,” says Cohn. Not just because it’s irritating for the other parents, but because it can actually hurt your child’s performance.”