101 Ways to Be a Terrific Sports Parent: Making Athletics a Positive Experience for Your Child

by Joel Fish

The determining factor in whether a child between the ages of six and seventeen enjoys athletics is his or her parents -- not the sport, coach, or team. Yet, parents are often unaware of how their behavior and expectations impact their child's experience.
In 101 Ways to Be a Terrific Sports Parent, Dr. Joel Fish, a sport psychologist who is also the dad of three young athletes, shares both his clinical expertise and practical experience to help parents develop a deeper understanding of the many issues that surround the young athlete. For athletes of all skill levels, from Little League to high school, Dr. Fish discusses how

•Help your child reach his or her full athletic potential
•Develop strategies to deal with competitive pressure
•Know if you're too involved or not involved enough
•Interact successfully with your child's coach, and more

With insights into the different developmental and self-esteem issues facing girls and boys, information on parenting a superstar athlete, and special tips for single parents, 101 Ways to Be a Terrific Sports Parent will help any parent make sports a memorable and happy experience for their child.

Genres: Parenting, Sports, Nonfiction

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Tanya]

By age 13, 30% of kids drop out of sports primarily because they are no longer having fun. The most critical factor of whether or not they are having fun is their parents' attitude. Many kids feel pressure to always do well and win. The best gifts we can give them when they participate in sports are love, support, guidance and encouragement. Being knowledgeable about what a child is experiencing emotionally and physically at various ages as (s)he progresses through sports will help kids to make sports memorable and positive.

Early sports experiences can leave a profound mark on children, as it is an area in which they develop identities and build self-esteem and self-confidence. Sports memories are usually vivid, associated with very fresh and often painful emotions. These memories can influence kids for many years.

[Fiamma]

I liked it a lot, will eventually get my own copy someday. Every parent with sports-playing kids needs to read this book! A good reminder to let kids have fun instead of living your unfulfilled dreams through them.