Sports are a very good way for kids to get out, make friends, and build some self-confidence in their accomplishments. A kid does not have to be great at a sports to play. The goal of kid’s sports is not to win but to have fun. It is the goal of having fun that parents should keep in mind when signing up a child for sports. While this is hard to do for some parents, it really is all about the kids.
Parents can encourage their kids by praising their best tries. It does not matter if a goal is scored, a touchdown is made, or a home run is hit. What does matter is that good plays are recognized and praised as such. A good play is more important than points on the board because you are recognizing and vocalizing that your child has done something well. The scores will come in time. It is more important that the child improves than be the star of the team.
Parents can encourage their kids by not berating them for their mistakes. Mistakes in sports are part of the learning process. They are still learning the game and mistakes are bound to happen. Berating a child in front of their peers is a very bad way to keep them motivated. More often than not, they are keenly aware that a mistake has been made. Yelling at them will only compound the problem and make the situation worse. Let the coach fix the problems instead.
Parents have a lot of influence in how well kids do in sports. It has nothing to do with the score. The goal of sports is to have fun while building skills. The benefits of a kid playing sports are intangible and cannot be measured on a score board.