Super Bowl Sunday is finally here. The 47th Super Bowl will take place at Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, LA on Sunday, February 3, 2013 and Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30EST / 5:30 CST on CBS. Americans love watching the Super Bowl and other large sports events, largely because they are a metaphor for the struggles in life we all share. For parents of boys, there are many things that are important to know about sports and competition in your son's life.
Sports can provide something they may not find anywhere else in their young lives: a safe environment to have feelings. Parental support and a great coach are important factors in teaching your son about sports. Sports allow boys to work hard, to learn about themselves, to risk failure, and to experience the amazingness of accomplishing something in front of many people.
If your son is involved in sports, it is smart to examine your own expectations first. For most boys, sports are just play and should always be fun. It becomes harmful when parents push to hard and your own expectations become unattainable. Your son should play because he wants to. There are several things a parent can do to evaluate their own expectations and to make sure that their son's participation in sports remains healthy, positive and personally rewarding.
Pay attention at practice and games.
Most coaches are involved in sports because they genuinely care about young people and want to help them develop positive social skills and life lessons. Sadly, however, you will probably come across a coach or two that believes in shaming and humiliation sometime in your son's sports experience. Never allow your son to be mistreated physically or verbally by coaches or teammates.
Find out if the sport is a good fit by their behavior
Do you find you son waiting by the car with all his equipment an hour before each practice? Or does he appear to be silent, develop a stomacheache, or refuse to talk before and after practice? Remember to be patient with him and take the time to listen to his feelings.
Your son's worth does NOT depend on his athletic accomplishments.
No matter how hard your son works and practices, the truth is that most boys will never become professional athletes. Notice your son's effort and improvements. Be kind with his faults and failures. If your are constantly criticizing his abilities and efforts, he will begin to really dislike sports. Keep it fun, and he will find that he can learn a lot about life, determination, and teamwork from sports.
Comments