- We're going to play hard
- We're going to play smart
- We're going to have fun
- We're going to practice as we play
- We're going to give a winning effort
Basketball Ontario Guidelines for Parent Behaviour
The most important part of children's basketball experience is that they learn about themselves while enjoying the sport. This healthy environment encourages learning and fun, which will develop a positive self-image within each child.
Let the Coach Coach!
The coach is the only one that should judge a players performance and technique because he may be looking for different things from game to game or from player to player. (In other words Parents should not be giving their athlete children a post game analysis as soon as they see them after the game!) Parents perform an important role by providing their unconditional support. A parent's comments regarding a player's performance and technique (especially without first hand knowledge of the coaches game plan) may only serve to confuse the athlete and have him looking to the stands instead of concentrating on the game.
Your role is to provide unconditional support. You cannot criticize as a coach must and offer your unconditional support. Athletes must have that safety zone where no matter what their performance they know they are accepted. If they think that you have a vested interest in their performance then they will feel they have let you down and you will not be able to convince them otherwise. The number one ally in performance is an athlete's self esteem (confidence) and their ability to maintain that self esteem even after a sub par performance. They must know that their disappointment is not going to be amplified by yours.
