• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Header Logo
  • About Us
  • Podcast
  • Blog
    • A Healthy Athlete
    • Coaching and Team Culture
    • Lifestyle
    • Sports Parenting
    • High Performance
    • Mindset and Mental Health
    • Girls Sports
    • Ask Dr. Sam
  • Inspiration & Humor
  • Videos
  • Join the Community
Facebook Instagram Twitter youtube pinterest

As seen in

What If You DON’T Love To Watch Them Play?

  • 1,044shares
  • 1,041
  • 3

What If You DON’T Love To Watch Them Play?

I’m guessing most of you us have experienced this occasionally…or a lot. We all love watching our kids play – most of the time. But what about those times when you don’t enjoy watching them play? When you catch yourself putting your head in your hands to keep from witnessing your 8-year-old manage to find every corner of the court where the action ISN’T. Or maybe your athlete is in a slump – last week they were crushing the ball and this week they can’t hit the side of a barn? Kids’ bodies, minds and interests are growing and changing at a rapid pace and this does not always lend itself to good or consistent play.

Related: Is Your Parenting Style Killing Your Child’s Motivation?

Studies have shown that winning or watching winning actually increases hormones. We are so closely tied to our children that we actually get a natural high when they win or do something well. It physically makes us feel good. Their success equals our success. The opposite is true when they lose or screw up, meaning that those times when watching our kids play isn’t so fun, it’s likely because we want to win. We want to feel accomplished. We need validation that the sacrifices we are making aren’t going to land them in therapy when they’re older and instead that it’s all worth something. That’s a lot of WEs and not a lot of thems. Too much of youth sports has become about us parents and not enough about our young athletes. Too many of our reactions and choices are based on our egos and not what’s truly best for our kids.

Ironically, when your child isn’t doing well in a game, that’s when they need you to be on their side the most. One thing is for sure, they aren’t playing badly on purpose, and they’re probably feeling more isolated, lonely and upset than almost any other time in their day or week. There is no better time to be on their side and by their side. To be a kind face on the sideline, not a scowling, disapproving face – affirming all the insecure thoughts swirling in their own minds. This is just a moment in time, a small fraction of their lives and sports career. It will pass; and just when you think you’ve got it figured out, the ones that have been playing well – will start to stink it up, and the kid who’s struggling – will suddenly stop you in your tracks, doing things you never dreamed possible. And it’s the growth between these two times that will serve them the most in their sports, but even more importantly, in their lives.

So, remember when you find yourself in these moments, take a deep breath, step back and ask yourself, is my reaction about me or them? Am I helping them in any positive way right now? If you answer this from the heart, you will be able to reset and stop your negative behavior. They need you to have their back when they’re down in the dumps, way more than when they’ve just hit a home-run, scored a goal, or made the game-winning shot.

The 8 Things You Need To Know To Raise Successful Athletes

Primary Sidebar

  • The Ten Biggest Problems With Youth Sports
  • My Daughter Quit Sports, and This Is What Youth Sports Parents Need To Know
  • The Damaging Effects Of Overparenting Our Athletes
  • What It Takes To Raise Successful Athletes
  • The Reason Girls Should Play Sports
  • One Simple Hack To Help Your Child Perform Better In Sports, School, and Life.

Categories

  • A Healthy Athlete
  • Sports Parenting
  • Coaching and Team Culture
  • High Performance
  • Lifestyle
  • Mindset

Footer

WHAT'S TRENDING IN YOUTH SPORTS?
Asia Mape Video
follow us
facebook instagram twitter youtube pinterest

We Believe In The Power Of Sports

Injuries in young athletes have soared. Costs to compete have skyrocketed. Kids are quitting in record numbers. But we believe strongly in youth sports, and the many ways it improves our childrens’ lives.

We are here to help parents regain balance and sanity, and to help restore the joy, accomplishment, and core values derived from sports.

Begin your journey today.

 

More About Us

Join the Community

Sign up for our weekly newsletter for the latest news, articles, inspiration, stats, funny videos, tips and everything you need if you are a parent or coach in youth sports, delivered right to your inbox!
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

About the founder

According to a survey conducted over 30 years by two coaches and athletic administrators about what young athletes want to hear most from their parents after a sporting event, it turns out it is: “I love to watch you play.”

Become a Contributor

Advertising/Media

Contact

Privacy Policy/Amazon Affiliate Notification

Copyright 2023 © I Love To Watch You Play. All rights reserved. | Accessibility Feedback | Developed by Tiny Frog Technologies

Join Our Community

Sign up for our weekly newsletter for the latest news, articles, inspiration, stats, funny videos, tips and everything you need if you are a parent or coach in youth sports, delivered right to your inbox!
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Sign up for our newsletter
  • Sign up for our weekly newsletter for the latest news, articles, inspiration, stats, funny videos, tips and everything you need if you are a parent or coach in youth sports delivered right to your inbox!
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.