Heights National LL: Parents
Your Role As A Little League Parent
Local Little Leagues are entirely volunteer organizations. Each league depends on adults like you to organize and conduct every aspect. Not only do adults serve as administrators, volunteer coaches, and umpires they also help with field maintenance, fund-raising, concessions, and numerous other special projects.
Your willingness to exchange time and effort for your child's benefit and enjoyment is very important to the functioning of your local Little League. Cheering your daughter or son on from the stands is one important way to be involved, but we invite you to do even more by volunteering to help run your local Little League program.
Without a doubt, Little League is a family affair that gives parents and children a common ground for spending time together. Whether you are coaching the players, selling popcorn to the fans, or bringing soda for the team after the game, your family will enjoy being a part of Little League in your community. Most of all, you will appreciate the benefits of your enthusiasm and involvement in his or her activities.
When winning is kept in perspective, there is room for fun in the pursuit of victory or more accurately, the pursuit of victory is fun. With your leadership Little League can help your child learn to accept responsibilities, accept others and most of all, accept her - or himself.
Keeping Winning in Perspective
Are you able to keep winning in perspective? You might answer with a confident yes, but will you be able to do so when it is your child who is winning or losing, when your child is treated a bit roughly by someone on the other team, or when the umpire makes a judgment against your child? Parents are sometimes unprepared for the powerful emotions they experience when watching their sons and daughters compete.
One reason that parents' emotions run to high is that they want their children to do well; it reflects on them. They also may believe that their children's failures are their own. Parents need to realize that dreams of glory they have for their youngsters are not completely unselfish, but they are completely human. Parents who are aware of their own pride, who are even capable of being amused by their imperfections, can keep themselves well under control.
Being a Model of Good Sportsmanship
Flying off the handle at games or straining relations with the coach or other parents creates a difficult situation for your child. Just as you don't want your daughter or son to embarrass you, don't embarrass your Little Leaguer.
It's no secret that kids imitate their parents. In addition, they absorb the attitudes they think lie behind their parents' actions. As you go through the Little League season with your child, be a positive role model. How can you expect your child to develop a healthy perspective about competing and winning if you display an unhealthy one? Remember Little league is supposed to be a fun experience for your child, and one in which he or she will learn some sport skills. Winning will take care of itself.
Some parents seem to abandon good principles of child rearing when their child is participating in sports. However, just as your child's home, school, and religious environment affect the type of person he or she will be, so does the sport environment especially when your child is young. Remember this:
If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.
If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.
If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive.
If children live with praise, they learn to like themselves.
If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.
If children live with recognition, they have to have a goal.
If children live with honesty, they learn what trust is.
Parents Responsibilities
1. Let your child choose to play Little League and to quit if he or she dose not enjoy baseball. Encourage participation, but don't pressure.
2. Understand what your child wants from participating in Little League and provide a supportive atmosphere for achieving these goals.
3. Set limits on your child's participation in baseball or softball. You need to determine when he or she is physically and emotionally ready to play and to insure that the conditions for playing are safe.
4. Make certain your child's coach is qualified to guide your child through the Little League experience.
5. Keep winning in perspective by remembering Athletes First, Winning Second. Instill this perspective in your child.
6. Help your child set realistic goals about his or her own performance so success is guaranteed.
7. Help your child understand the experiences associated with competitive sports so he or she can learn the valuable lessons sports can teach.
8. Discipline your child when he or she misbehaves, breaks the rules, or is uncooperative or uncontrollable.
9. Turn your child over to the coach at practices and games, and avoid meddling or becoming a nuisance.
© Copyright 1993, Human Kinetics Publishers, Inc.
Saturday, December 1
Sport Parent Code of Conduct
We, the __Heights National___________ Little League, have implemented the following Sport Parent Code of Conduct for the important message it holds about the proper role of parents in supporting their child in sports. Parents should read, understand and sign this form prior to their children participating in our league. Any parent guilty of improper conduct at any game or practice will be asked to leave the sports facility and be suspended from the following game. Repeat violations may cause a multiple game suspension, or the season forfeiture of the privilege of attending all games.
Preamble
The essential elements of character-building and ethics in sports are embodied in the concept of sportsmanship and six core principles:
• Trustworthiness, • Respect, • Responsibility, • Fairness, • Caring, and • Good Citizenship.
The highest potential of sports is achieved when competition reflects these “six pillars of character.”
I therefore agree:
1. I will not force my child to participate in sports.
2. I will remember that children participate to have fun
and that the game is for youth, not adults.
3. I will inform the coach of any physical disability or
ailment that may affect the safety of my child or the
safety of others.
4. I will learn the rules of the game and the policies of
the league.
5. I (and my guests) will be a positive role model for my
child and encourage sportsmanship by showing
respect and courtesy, and by demonstrating positive
support for all players, coaches, officials and spectators
at every game, practice or other sporting event.
6. I (and my guests) will not engage in any kind of
unsportsmanlike conduct with any official, coach,
player, or parent such as booing and taunting; refusing
to shake hands; or using profane language
or gestures.
7. I will not encourage any behaviors or practices
that would endanger the health and well being of
the athletes.
8. I will teach my child to play by the rules and to
resolve conflicts without resorting to hostility
or violence.
9. I will demand that my child treat other players,
coaches, officials and spectators with respect
regardless of race, creed, color, sex or ability.
10. I will teach my child that doing one’s best is more
important than winning, so that my child will never
feel defeated by the outcome of a game or
his/her performance.
11. I will praise my child for competing fairly and
trying hard, and make my child feel like a winner
every time.
12. I will never ridicule or yell at my child or other
participants for making a mistake or losing a
competition.
13. I will emphasize skill development and practices and
how they benefit my child over winning. I will also
de-emphasize games and competition in the lower
age groups.
14. I will promote the emotional and physical wellbeing
of the athletes ahead of any personal desire
I may have for my child to win.
15. I will respect the officials and their authority during
games and will never question, discuss, or confront
coaches at the game field, and will take time to
speak with coaches at an agreed upon time
and place.
16. I will demand a sports environment for my child that
is free from drugs, tobacco, and alcohol and I will
refrain from their use at all sports events.
17. I will refrain from coaching my child or other
players during games and practices, unless I am
one of the official coaches of the team.
Parent/Guardian Signature
Parents Pledge
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I will positively support all manager, coaches, and players.
I will respect the decisions of the umpires.
I will praise good effort despite the outcome of the game.
Tuesday, March 6
What About My Child?
We encourage you to read on and learn how you and your family can share in the growth of your child through ...
Tuesday, March 6
Understand Kids and Sports
Tuesday, March 6
Communicating with your Child's Coach
