Important Information about Youth and Sports.
Kids participate in sports primarily because it is fun. Adults need to keep it fun. Some adults get too emotional about youth sports because they are too concerned with how their kids are doing, have the mistaken belief that winning is very important, or have a desire for glory through their kids' success. The last one is part of the concept of living through your kids.
Kids need to know that if they are trying their best, they are winners. Parents need to remember that their kids will not be great at everything. Recognizing that, parents can help most by relaxing and enjoying these fleeting years.
Placing too much pressure on kids to perform well creates stress that can detract from their fun and their performance and can affect their self-esteem. Instructions shouted to players are distracting, usually too late, and sometimes inaccurate or in conflict with what the coach is teaching.
My Pledge to Set a Good Example
Whether I am a player or an adult, I will not be critical of players, referees, coaches or spectators. As an adult, I should know that failing to show respect for people who are doing the best they can sets a bad example for our children and can result in expulsion from the site, suspension from future attendance, and even barring a child from playing. If anyone makes an inappropriate comment, I will not make a negative response and risk a confrontation.
Parents will remind their children that they need to control negative emotions to avoid embarrassing themselves, risking ejection and risking a loss of respect for the team. They should remind their children that their behavior influences younger players.
Coaches should remember that encouragement and praise for every child, not just the best athletes, are critically important to their self-esteem and their ability to achieve the most they can.
Recognize that striving to win, rather than winning itself is what is important in life. Striving to win means doing the best you can. Winning too much means that the teams you are playing are weaker.
I recognize that all players must get adequate playing time to improve and gain the confidence that helps them do the best they can. I acknowledge that this is more important than winning games. If coaches feel that their team lost simply because a player of lesser ability received appropriate playing time, they did the right thing.
As an adult (and parents remind your children) I acknowledge that making mistakes and loosing are part of life. We all suffer setbacks. I pledge that I will be tolerant of the mistakes of players, coaches, referees, and others.
I hereby agree that if I fail to conform my conduct to the foregoing while attending, coaching, officiating or participating in a youth sports event I will be subject to disciplinary action, including but not limited to the following in any order or combination:
1. Verbal and Written warning issued by the league or CWCSC organization official.
2. Suspension or immediate ejection from a youth sports event issued by the league or CWCSC organization official.
3. Suspension from multiple youth sports events issued by the league or CWCSC organization official.
4. Season suspension or multiple season suspension issued by the league or CWCSC organization official.