In the Game of Life: Parenting, Coaching, and the Pursuit of Sportsmanship

Today, I had a conversation with another parent about her child’s sports experience, and it got me thinking — where are the coaches in all this? Youth sports are meant to be about learning and having fun, right? I understand that many youth recreation programs rely on parent volunteers, and I’ve been one of those parents myself. I’ve had the pleasure of coaching girls who were new to the game, and we made sure to rotate positions to help them learn the ropes.

No one likes to be stuck on the bench for an entire game without a chance to shine.

Now, I may ruffle some feathers with what I’m about to say, but it’s something that’s been on my mind for a while. Sometimes, it seems like parents can be just as competitive as the kids, and we’re talking about children under 10 here! They’re still growing and learning. Sure, they might have their off days, but they’re also here to be coached and developed. After all, they’re still kids.

I’ve heard countless stories about parent coaches favoring their own kids and hogging the spotlight.

I’ve even witnessed it myself. I’m not saying parents shouldn’t play their kids, but if a child…