Auburndale Youth Basketball League: Parent Info

All parents must join the Parents Alliance for Youth Sports by taking the online PAYS Clinic.  Many parents have told us that they learned a lot by taking this clinic.  They told us that it really opens your eyes to what youth sports is really all about!  So many times we try to live our childhood through our kids and we forget that they are kids and they just want to play and have a great time!

Ask your child if he/she had a good time at practices and games.  Ask them what they learned instead of what the score was.  You and them will both be happier if you focus on what they learn and how they execute what they have been taught rather than the score on the scoreboard.

We encourage you to think of the practice courts and gyms as your child's classrooms and their coaches as their teachers.  Most of us would not dream of making a scene at school but sometimes we forget that at a sporting event.  Sometimes we think it is ok to yell at a coach or an official when it actually makes your child and others around you uncomfortable and diminishes the positive experience that all should enjoy.

Parents, please bring your child to practices and games on time.  The coaches are giving of their time to work with your kids so please help them to help your child.  Your child is not going to learn the game of basketball on game day.  Practice is where they will learn the basic fundamentals needed to have a good time playing on Saturdays!

Together we can make this league fun, instructional and educational while enjoying friendly competition.  Please encourage kids on both teams while participating in Auburndale Youth Basketball's activities whether recreational or competitive.  We ask you all to read the sign at the high school regarding behavior in the gym.

Lastly, please remember that the officials are human and they will make mistakes.  They have nothing to gain by calling the game for the 'other team'.  All of our officials have the kid's best interest at heart and truly care about them!

Please read and sign the Parent Code of Ethics Pledge and honor it throughout your youth sports experiences.

LET'S ALL REMEMBER THIS IS YOUTH SPORTS NOT THE NBA/WNBA!

LET'S PLAY BASKETBALL!

The National Youth Sports Coaches Association published an interesting article about parental behavior.

Bad behavior: U.S. youth sports parents seen as world’s worst, poll finds   Bad behavior by parents at youth sporting events is more likely to occur in the United States than in any other country, according to a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll.   Respondents from the United States were most likely to witness poor behavior by parents (60 percent), followed closely by India (59 percent), Italy (55 percent), Argentina (54 percent), Canada (53 percent) and Australia (50 percent).   The survey was conducted among 23,000 adults throughout 22 countries.   “It’s ironic that the United States, which prides itself in being the most civilized country in the world, has the largest group of adults having witnessed abusive behavior at children’s sports events,” said John Wright, senior vice president of Ipsos. “There is clearly a fine line between participatory enthusiasm and abuse and parents, as role models, have got to keep that in mind and keep themselves in check for the sake of their children.”   Hungary, the Czech Republic, Mexico, Japan and France were among the countries least likely to have parents behaving inappropriately during youth sports events.   Overall, the study found that 35 percent of adults worldwide have witnessed a parent become physically or verbally abusive toward a coach or official at a youth sports event.   It also found that men (41 percent) were more likely than women (33 percent) to have witnessed abusive behavior, and those in higher income brackets and those who were more educated were more likely to have seen parents acting in an abusive manner.   These results serve as another reminder of the importance of those in charge of youth sports programs to take proactive approaches to help parents gain a clear understanding of what type of behavior is acceptable in a youth sports setting and what will not be tolerated. Posted:4/12/2010