Many times, you may hear about parents who are over-bearing and who live vicariously through their children. You know the type: they’re always hollering from the sidelines at the coaches, they are always hollering at their kids and they often make their kids cry due to the emotional stress and pressure that they place on the kids. These parents are often perceived as having  control or inadequacy issues and this is why they are so hard on the children.

Well, the explanation for these types of parents may not be that cut and dry. Moreover, in SOME situations, these parents are just what the children need.

The reality about athletics is that, hard work and training will not necessarily produce a world champion or a high level athlete. Accordingly, many “obsessed” parents understand this, yet they see something unique in a child that tells them that there may be great potential in this little person. It could be speed, strength, game IQ or some other factor that makes the child unique. When a parent sees this, it is the parents obligation to his or her child to not let that potential go to waste.

Why should we not allow the potential to go to waste? It’s because, America’s prisons are filled with wasted potential. It often takes more than talent and potential for a child to realize his or her dreams, it takes the benefit of an older person’s life experience. More importantly, it may take a person who cares so much that he (or she) is constantly putting themselves in the shoes of that child (thus living vicariously through that child). If you are this person, it’s not all bad. You can be an indispensable ally in your child’s quest for success. Here are some things that you can do to help your child achieve the greatness that you perceive in them:

1. Train them properly. That means if they need strength or skills training, make sure that they get it. Otherwise, you could be setting them up for a fall.
2. Be critical and honest when they perform poorly. However, you also need to balance harsh criticism with praise when they do well.
3. Teach them to have no mercy on the field, but have them behave with good sportsmanship off of the field.
4. Do not become overprotective of your athlete. When he (or she) is on the field, coach is the boss. They aren’t so special that they play by different rules than anyone else. The child athlete has to respect the team, coach and the pecking order.
5. They must learn to become coachable. This is not something that everyone is born with. Being coachable often learned through hard work and practice.

In conclusion, without and Earl Woods, there would be no Tiger Woods. Without Richard Williams, there would be no Venus or Serena Williams. If you aren’t the person that facilitates your child’s success then who?

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