DOCUMENT RESUME ED 302 537 SP 030 807 AUTHOR Smith, Ronald E.; And Others TITLE Parents' Complete Guide to Youth Sports. INSTITUTION American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, Reston, VA, REPORT NO ISBN-0-937359-47-5 PUB DATE 89 NOTE 188p. AVAILABLE FROMAAHPERD Publications, P.O. Box 704, Waldorf, MD 20604 ($9.95). PUB TYPE Reports - Descriptive (141) ERRS PRICE MFO1 Plus Postage. PC Not Available from EDRS. DESCRIPTORS *Athletics; Competition; Elementary Secondary Education; *Family Involvement; *Parent Child Relationship; Parent Influence; Parent Participation; *Parent Role; Participative Decision Making; *Stress Variables; *Team Sports ABSTRACT This book offers suggestions on what role parents should assume from the time their youngster starts youth sports through recruitment by college coaches. It offers suggestions not only to the parents of giftee athletes but also to parents who have children of average athletic ability. It provides helpful information about parenting young athletes at all levels. Athletics can be either a very enjoyable experience for parents and athletes, or a source of tension for both. Information and guidelines are provided for decision making that can help make youth sports an enriching experience for all. (JD) * Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made * from the original document. Parents' Complete Guide to ayouth muiK\ sports U S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION "PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS °eke of EdLcational Research and Improvement MATERIAL IN MICROFICHEONLY EDUCATIONAL RESJURCES INrORMATION HAS BEENGRANTED BY CENTER (ERIC) o This documant has been reproduced as 2 received from the iserson in Organtrahon )roptnating it Mtnor changes have been made to improve reproduction Quality Roontsof view or optnionsstated In !Pita docu- TO THE EDUCATIONALRESOURCES ment do not necessarily represent °Moat INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)' OERI posttton or pokey RONALD E. SMITH, Ph.D., FRANK L. SMOLL, Ph.D. NATHAN J. SMITH, M.D. 2 MANUFACTURERS FINANCIAL GROUP GROUP FIELD OFFICES CHICAGO OHIO VALLEYINDIANAPOLIS 230 West Monroe St 11711 N. Meridian St. Chicago, IL 60606 Carmel. IN 46032-9498 312-236-6092 317-844-6717 DALLAS OHIO VALLEY PITTSBURGH 542u LBJ Freeway One Gateway Centre Dallas, TX 75240 Pittsburgh, PA 15222 214-991-4400 412-471-4778 DETROIT ORANGE COUNTY 500 N. 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Smith, M.D. University of Washington A PROJECT OF The National Association Of Sport And Physical Education .AN ASSOCIATION OF The American Alliance For Health, Physical Education, Recreation, And Dance. HDL PUBLISHING COMPANY A Division of HDL COMMUNICATIONS Costa Mesa, CA 92626 PARENTS' COMPLETE GUIDE TO YOUTH SPORTS Ronald E. Smith, Ph.D. Frank L. Smoll, Ph.D. and Nathan J. Smith, M.D. University of Washington Parents' Complete Guide to Youth Sports Ronald E. Smith, Ph.D., Frank L. Smolt, Ph.D., Nathan J. Smith, M.D. Copyright ®1989, American Alliance For Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance All rights reserved. Except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review, no part of this book may be reproduced 'r utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Smith, Ronald Edward, 1940- Parents' complete guide to youth sports. "A project of the National Association of Sport and Physical Education, an asr ,ciation of the A merican Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance." 1. Sports for children. 2. Sports for childrenPsychological aspects. 3. Parent and child. I. Smoll, Frank L. II. Smith, Nathan J., 1921- III. National Association of Sport and Physicai Education. IV. Title. V. Title: Youth sports. GV709.2.S56 1989 796'.01'922 88-32823 ISBN 0-937359-47-5 Published by HDL Publishing A Division of HDL Communications, Inc. 702B Randolph Avenue Costa Mesa, California 92626 (714) 540-5775 Cover Design by Mike Dirham Photo of Dr. Smolt by Mary Levin Photo of Don James by UW Athletic Department Photos by Jim Kirby and Authors The National Association of Sport and Physical Education would Iiito express appreciation to Manufacturer's Life for their support of this publication and quality youth sport programs. 1098765 432 1 Printed in the United States of America 6 Sports touch nearly every family, and often they originate in a youth program. Although I am a college football coach, I have had two children participate in youth sport programs, and a third is participating now. I regret not having had an opportunity to read Parents' Complete Guide to Youth Sports before they became in- volved. Youngsters entering sports for the first time usually are par- ticipating for the enjoyment and camaraderie of being with their friends. But when my children started in youth sports, I can remem- ber being extreme'; upset with the attitudes and conduct of par- ents toward officials, coaches, and even their own youngsters. There is a tendency among parents to become children's severest critics, when in most cases what a young athlete needs is a pat on the back, not criticism. Parents' Complete Guide to Youth Sports offers suggestions on what role parents should assume from the time their youngster starts youth sports through recruitment by college roaches. It of- fers suggestions not only to the parents of gifted athletes but also to parents who have youngsters of average athletic ability. It pro- vides helpful information about parenting young athletes at all levels. Although only a small percentage of young athletes will be recruited by colleges and universities, for those who are and for their parents, it can be a very trying and emotional period. It is a time when proper input from parents can help a young athlete through a very stressful period and help him or her make a correct decision on which university to attend. 7 V Athletics can be a very enjoyable experience for parents and athletes. or they can become a source of tension and frayednerves for both. Parents' Complete Guide to Youth Sports provides informa- tion and guidelines for decision making thatcan help make youth sports what they should bean enjoyable and enriching experience for all. Don James Parent and head football coach, University of Washington 1977 College Football Coach of the Year 1 R 1111kik Sf vi CONTENTS 1. You and Your Child in Sports: 1 Sanity and Madness in Competition The Growth of Youth Sports Organized Youth Sports: The Debate Lingers On The Rights of Child Athletes Goals and Models in Youth Sports A Winning Philosophy for Youth Sport Parents' Roles and Responsibilities 2. The Psychology of the Young Athlete: 25 Mind and Motives Play and the Developing Child Self-Concept Development Sports and Self-Concept Development What Parents Can Do Sport Motivation and Competitiveness Achievement-Related Motives How Achievement Motivation and Fear of Failure Develop What Parents Can Do Understanding Competitivet:ess Needs for Approval and Recognition Extrinsic Rewards: Can We Destroy Love of the Game? Sports and Character-Building 3. The Young Athlete's Body: 47 Physical Development Factors That Influence Body Characteristics Patterns of Physical Growth Changes in Physical Abilities During Childhood and Adolescence Should Boys and Girls Compete Against Each Other? The Growing and Maturing Skeleton vii 8 Sport Participation and Physical Maturity The Early Maturer The Late Maturer The Body of Today's Young Athlete 4. Choosing a Sport Program: 65 A First Step to a Good Experience Your Respcnsibility as a Parent Deciding Together How Early Should Children Participate? Which Sports Should Your Child Play? How Many Sports Should Your Child Play? Sources of Information and How to Get It Some Important Considerations in Deciding on a Program 5. Food for Sport: 81 Nutrition Tips for Young Athletes Unique Nutrition Needs of the Young Athlete The Young Athlete's Diet How Sports Can Interfere with Good Nutrition Eating the Right Foods Meeting the Athlete's Need for Water and Salt Eating Before and During Competition Special Nutritional Needs of the High School Athlete 6. Sport Injuries: 99 When the Colors of Sports Are Black and Blue What Is a Sport Injury? Things Not to Do If Injured in Sport Things to Do When Injured Preventing Sport Injuries Be Prepared for an Emergency 7.