Sept. 15, 2014
When watching your child play sports, it's natural to get excited. But it's also important to make sure you always act as a Positive Sport Parent - on game day and beyond.
Being a Positive Sport Parent means not only keeping your emotions in check on game day, but also always remaining supportive and respectful of your youth athlete - as well as all the other kids and coaches involved in the competition. It's also vital to remember that as a parent, you have the power to help shape your youth athlete's attitude about sports.
In our
exclusive TAKE 5 interview, Tony told us growing up, his parents were "as involved as you can come" in his youth water polo experience.
"My father was an Olympic Coach who would take me to every training," remembered Tony. "My mother started a mom's league so that she could talk polo at the table."
Tony realizes he was blessed to have such involved Positive Sport Parents - from his youth water polo days all the way through his amazing experiences as part of four different U.S. Olympic teams.
"My mom was always at my games in college and the Olympics," said Tony.
Because Tony's family is so deeply immersed in the world of water polo, they often make it a point to not talk about the sport too much at home.
"I am so absorbed with water polo every day that I think if I spoke with my family about these things, I would never find my happy place," said Tony. "I look forward to my dad's long dinners, where not one person talks polo and all we do is eat amazing food!"
Tony stressed that many parents today can help grow the sport of water polo and serve as Positive Sport Parents.
"Make sports fun!" explained Tony. "Sports will teach your kids about leadership, hard work and teamwork, but they need to figure it out alone. If they love the sport at a young age, it is easy to force them to practice, but if they feel forced, then good luck!"
Keeping things light and fun and not making their kids' sports activities feel like a job or chore are key components to being a Positive Sport Parent, and Tony completely agrees with this approach.
"Parents need to realize that they cannot determine the lives of their kids," said Tony. "Guide them by example, give them every possibility to succeed, but never force them to be something they aren't."
At
Liberty Mutual Insurance, we constantly look for ways to celebrate the countless acts of positivity shown by people every day. We created
Play Positive, powered by
Positive Coaching Alliance, as part of this belief to help ensure that our kids experience the best that sports have to offer in environments that promote and display positivity. We believe kids can learn valuable life lessons when coaches and parents come together to support winning in and out of the pool.
©2014
Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and
Positive Coaching Alliance. All rights reserved. This material may not be distributed without express written permission. Any reproduction in whole or part by and individuals or organizations will be held liable for copyright infringement to the full extent of the law.
