Parents of Athletes, Stop Doing These Things!

By the age of 13, over 70% of athletes stop participating in a given sport. When asked what the reason is, the most common response is that they just aren’t fun anymore. If we want to reduce the dropout rate and keep kids participating in sport for a lifetime, they need autonomy, intrinsic motivation and of course, joy! In order to bring joy back into youth sports, I will share six things that all grownups should stop doing if we want the kids we work with to have a positive sport experience. 

1. Stop coaching from the sidelines. 
2. Stop yelling instructions while play is on. 
3. Stop disrespecting officials. 
4. Stop disrespecting the coach.
5. Stop discussing the play of their teammates.
6. Stop using the car ride home as a teaching moment. 

​If you'd like more on this topic, take a listen to my latest podcast Attention Grownups, Stop Doing These Things! (audio link) (YouTube link)