1. Encourage your children to participate for their own interest and enjoyment, not yours.
Support your children in their participation in basketball but do not force them to play if they don’t want to. Sport is played by children for enjoyment and fitness. It is good for their bodies but should also be good for their minds. If they feel too much pressure from you it may make them rebellious or even depressed. It is very tempting for parents who are involved in a sport, or who have children with abilities they wish they had themselves to try and force the children to participate or to participate at a level to which they do not aspire. Resist the temptation.
2. Encourage children to always play by the rules.
Just as responsible parents teach their children to obey the law of the land, so should those same parents encourage their children to play sport by the rules. If your children show no respect for the rules of the game of basketball, they can also come to believe that breaking the law is acceptable too. If you see your children constantly breaching rules you should be prepared to speak to them at an appropriate time.
3. Teach children that an honest effort is always as important as a victory.
Your children will suffer many disappointments in their lives. You should teach them from an early age that whilst a win in basketball will bring
them much pleasure, it is not the most important thing. Participating to the best of their abilities is far more important than winning. You can
help them learn this, so that the result of each game is accepted without undue disappointment.
4. Focus on developing skills and playing the game. Reduce the emphasis on winning.
If children see that effort is rewarded by an increase in skills, they will derive considerable pleasure and see the importance of striving to improve over the necessity to win every game. Primary responsibility for skills training rests with the children and their coaches but you can assist with their enthusiasm by attending games, encouraging them to practise away from formal training and games and even joining in with this practice.
5. A child learns best by example. Applaud good play by all teams.
Acknowledge all good plays whether they be by your children’s team or the other team. Good manners and respect can be infectious. If you acknowledge the achievements of your children’s opponents it is likely your children will follow suit. This can assist to create a positive and
supportive climate for all children involved in the game.
6. Do not criticise your or others’ children in front of others.
Reserve constructive criticism of your own children for more private moments. Children can be very sensitive and feel strong humiliation if they are criticised in front of their peers. When you do feel the necessity to speak to your child about something that displeases you, make the effort to explain what the problem is and why you are concerned about it. If you can see some way of avoiding the problem in the future, also explain this to the children. Give your children an opportunity to offer you an explanation. You are not communicating with your children effectively if all the communication is one way.
7. Accept decisions of all referees as being fair and called to the best of their ability.
Referees and officials have a difficult task to perform and your children could not play the game without them. They are there to enforce the rules of play but they cannot always be right. Accept bad calls graciously.
Abuse of referees is unacceptable behaviour. Players who consistently dispute decisions or do not accept bad decisions are bad sports. If you disagree with a decision, discuss it with your children in a constructive manner.
8. Set a good example by your own conduct, behaviour and appearance.
Children often learn by example. You are the prime role models for them. Make your parenting rewarding and beyond criticism by leading by example. Do not criticise opposing team members or supporters by word or gesture. Accept loss graciously and applaud the efforts of all playing
