Following the recent arrival of my son, I would like to write about parenting and sports. I will transmit the passion and love of sport to my son and would like to share some thoughts with you.

Providing my own perspective about why being a parent and transmitting sport values to your child really matters and it will help him/her for all his/her entire life.

As a parent, we want to provide simply the best to our kids. This is totally understandable and logical. However, when it comes to sports, sometimes we over expect from them. In my view, as a responsible parent, we should bear in mind the following:

• Sport should be first an enjoyment and fun time for your child, not a competition time (this part might come later)
• Let the child choose what the sport he or she wants to practice
• Be there to support him at trainings and tournaments. It’s ok to miss it few times, though
• Always remember a child is a child not a young adult. Physical performance can’t be compared.
• Remember the most important skills kids need to focus, regardless of sport, is coordination skills based on the ORDER concept. I remember when I did my foundation badge as football coach, we focus to train the kids and develop the following during each session:
  • Orientation: ability to be aware of positioning in a field
  • Reaction: ability to respond to stimulus
  • Differentiation: ability to develop variety in tempo, strength or speed
  •  Equilibrium (balance): ability to get body remain balanced at all time
  • Rhythm: ability to adjust certain rhythm dictated by the environment

• Do not live through your children: Your excitement for their successes and your disappointment for their failures are a normal and healthy part of parenting. But sharing your children’s sports participation doesn’t mean living through them.
• ​Overmatching them with a famous athlete: all parents would love to have the new Messi or Ronaldo, but the reality is that putting this kind of reference is just adding pressure on the kid. Let him/her become the person s/he wants to become with its name, personality and style
• Give them time to develop skills and don’t fast forward them. In any sport, it is part of the development not to burn steps.
• Never criticised them when they fail or loose. Failing is part of learning, in sport and in life.

Here are few sentences, which if they come from your child, show you are having a positive and effective impact
“I am having lots of fun”
“I love playing with my friends”
“I really want to play this sport”
“My team comes first, me after”
“I respect decision of coach or referee”
“Winning is great, but loosing something it is part of the game”
“Opponents are not my enemies”
“I listen and respect my coach”
“I won’t give up”​
“Hard work pays off. No pain, no gain”