What Type Of Parent Are You?

I enjoy meeting parents who truly want the best for their child, those parents who want their kid to become a great teammate and focus on improving everyone on their team. l seek out the parents who are looking for an environment where their child can mature and be held accountable for their actions, on and off the field. Are you that type of parent, wanting accountability for your child?

I am forever committed to parents who understand the true meaning of "parenting". Good parents should seek an environment where their child can grow and learn all aspects of life. Good parents are collaborating to provide that great experience!

Kids should always be challenged! Kids should be placed in an environment where they can learn how to become a good teammate that can manage to lose and win. They should learn to become a leader when a team needs their leadership and learn to become a good follower when their team needs players doing their job. If a parent is judging development by wins and losses, then it should be measured on a 50/50 basis. If your child is winning 90% of their games, they are not in the best development environment because they are not competing at a high enough level or challenging themselves. Kids should play on a program that seeks the best competition and learns how to battle, scratch and fight to win a game, it should not come easy or you are doing them a disservice.

Kids should learn what the meaning of commitment is! Commit to a purpose, to a process that provides the proper development where you can experience a struggle but also earned success. If kids are experiencing success to easily, you are setting them up for failure. Commit to earning victories and improving as a person and player on and off the field. Do you support your coach and team at the time of struggles? Are you committed to working out of a bad situation and rallying the troops or do you lack commitment to a program as a parent which leads to problems? This weekend I was watching a game and listened to a parent "hold court" outside the fence as his team was losing grip on the game, he was stating "we are getting outcoached", we should have done this and should have done that, etc. Are you a parent that would listen to this "negativity" or would you hold that parent accountable? BTW, the team had a walk-off grand slam to win the game and the concerned parent was still sulking. That bad apple will spoil the bunch if you let it. A kid will never cause an issue, it is ALWAYS the parent!

Kids should focus on being good leaders! I had one of my players ask me "what can I do better for the team" this weekend. I was so excited that he asked that question. I explained he can focus on the 4 new kids on the team who are struggling because of nerves and the level of play. Just talk to them, become their friend, make them feel welcome, pat them on the back when they make a mistake and encourage them letting them know you have their back. Don't get frustrated with them feed them confidence while helping them transition to a productive level. The same parent holding court in reference to being out coached in the above paragraph, also apparently went to the coach and told him the team had a weak link that needed to be replaced with a stronger player. Wow! So what happens, when his son misses a ball, should we pull him off the field and go find a better player?

Parents should be parents and not be a coach! Are you always encouraging your child and being a parent first, even if you are their coach? You should not be any harder on the player because it is your child and you need to allow them to develop their own personality because they are not you! Do not sit in the stands and say anything negative or that is not positive. Never question the coaching, the umpiring or throw gas on a situation that calls for adults to be adults. Never allow one game or one situation to dictate choices that will identify you for the rest of your life. Commit to a program, commit to a team and do everything within your power to make that a better program and a better team. Do not take the top 5 players from that team, recruit another top 5 from surrounding teams and then go form your own team! Happens every day and if you are that parent, you are in for a rude awakening. You will be lost without friends and support that you think you will have.

Parents should want to "Build" and be a part of a "Building Process". Why do parents seek immediate gratification and look for a team that their child can "win now"? How does that make sense in the real world? The best process is to be a part of a program that proves it can teach and build great teams with committed families who are willing to work for results? Why go pillage other team's players to start your team or program? Commit to a program that commits to its players or you will find yourself as the odd person out when your child struggles to produce for a couple of weeks and a new player shows up with your child's number and you are pushed out!

Parents need to get a grip! Get a grip on how your actions are affecting your child. Get a grip on how your decisions affect your child's development on and off the field. Let your child struggle and work out of his struggles, let your team struggle and work out of their struggles, let them earn championships by overachieving. Do not stack the deck for your child so you can win a trophy and feel like you are doing them a favor because you are creating a life full of disappointment in reality. Get a grip on what is really important and that is to put your child in a situation that teaches life skills and how to create a proper work ethic that will provide benefit for your grandchildren.

Stars and Stripes Sports is a National Sports Eco-System focused on providing parents with an environment that allows for ultimate player development. We want each player to learn how to become a good teammate and to receive the best guidance and coaching possible. We want to work with the committed athletes who are willing to work hard and be committed to a purpose earning every accolade that comes our way. We do not want great players and athletes who think they are doing us a favor by participating in our program because we are building winners and someone who will one day take your spot if you do not commit to what it takes to achieve. If you are a parent that truly wants the best for your child, you will take time to learn more about Stars and Stripes Sports!