MY CHILD IS READY TO PLAY YOUTH SPORTS, WHAT DO I DO NOW?

I hear this question quite often and I wanted to take a few moments to share my thoughts in hopes that it may help someone.   First off, Congratulations,  I know how exciting it is to have your son or daughter ready to play their first official sport.   Just a few years ago, I was in your shoes and it was so exciting,   In all likelihood, Dad is three times as excited as Mom or the child, but that's ok!

Here are a few questions and suggestions.

What sport does he/she seem to like?

    Is there a sport on television that they like to watch or a favorite sports video game they like to play?   You want the first experience to be something that is easy to follow and isn't weighed down by a bunch of rules.  The concept must be easy for the to grasp. One of the reasons so many children play soccer for their first experience is because the rules are so simple.  Kick the ball in the goal, don't let the other guy kick it in your goal.  In South Charlotte, my non-scientific poll would say that 85% of kids play soccer or tball for their first sports experience.  Just because Mom or Dad was an All-Conference hockey player, it doesn't mean that Junior is ready to hop on skates at age 4 and understand hockey.

Find a sport that you can also coach.

Mom and Dad don't have to be the team's coach, but if you want your child to find success, you must work with them at home.  Anyone that relies on just the 1-2 hours of coaching a week from the team's coach is going to struggle to find success and happiness in the sport.   The coach can only help your child to get started, it's on your shoulders to increase their skillset. It's also important to note,  just because you didn't play the game, it doesn't mean you can't coach it.

Where do we sign up at?  When do we sign up?

South Charlotte is blessed with some wonderful athletic associations.  Many of these are very big supporters of The South Charlotte Sports Report and I hope you will check in with them first.   Within our coverage area you will find Olde Providence Recreation Association, Park Sharon Athletic Association, Pineville/Ballantyne Community Athletic Association and Matthews Area Recreation Association,   All four of these are outstanding places to start and as mentioned above, they all play a role in allowing us to provide coverage of the youth in our community.  Many area churches also have athletic opportunities for your children.

The most important item is to find somewhere you feel comfortable.  Many of the parents on your child's first team could end up being life-long friends.    Ask your friends and neighbors where their children play and why they chose that association.   Look at what each offers, are you comfortable with their facilities and their reputations?  What programs do they offer?  Are we going to fit in here?   Lot's of questions to ask and if you get it wrong the first time, you can always look for a better fit the next season.

We are currently in a very popular time for spring sports enrollment, so if this is the season for you to start, I would act before February 15th to find a happy home.

What do I do if my child doesn't want to go on the field at the first practice?

This is a dilemma that so many parents face.    I talk to professional athletes all the time and I have heard many stories about their first experiences in sports.   First off, this is normal behavior, so don't think something is wrong with your child or that it's your fault.    My best advice is walk right out on the field with them, involver yourself with the practice, make yourself part of the tea.   Once your child becomes comfortable you will see the opportunity to slide back to the sidelines.   If any coach of a youngster has a problem with this, they don't need to be coaching, plain and simple.  This is about the kids not the coach, they have had their day in the sun.

It may take a couple of practices or longer for your child to feel secure and that's ok.   There is a strong chance they will not know anyone on the team, so do your best to meet others.

I will leave you with advice that I was given by a dear friend.   "Enjoy these times, no matter how far your child goes, it may never be as fun as the first few years."

If you have any questions or need advice, please email me at Tripp@southcharlottesports.com