Courtney Chihil (FGCU): Parents Getting too Involved

When kids are young they begin experimenting with different activities in order to discover what extra curricular activities they will participate in.  These activities could range from sports to theater, but whatever they decide to do, they do it for a reason.  That reason being they truly enjoy it and have fun doing their activity of choice.  I think extra curricular activities are a must for children, allowing them to stay active, meet friends and learn life long lessons.  The part I don’t agree with is when parents begin to get too involved in their children’s activities. 

I worked the clock at a basketball tournament this weekend for girls between the ages of 11 and 16.  I was in shock at how intense and serious the parents were at the games, especially for the girls who were only 11 years old.  At one game in particular a girl had two turnovers in a row and she missed a lay up.  Her father ran down to the coach and said, “You take my daughter out of the game right now.  She is an embarrassment not only to me but to your team.”  I was in shock.  I mean honestly she is 11 years old and is still learning the game.  In order to get better kids have to make mistakes.  If her dad continues to act like that the girl is going to end up hating the sport.  The girl came running off the floor and her coach got in her face and started yelling at her.  Tears began to fall down her face and she looked completely discouraged.  Parents need to understand that kids are only kids.  Kids can be serious about a sport, but they still need to have fun while playing. 

It has also become very popular for kids to start getting personal trainers at a young age.  Getting too serious at a young age can cause kids to burn out.  A perfect example is a girl I played AAU basketball against.  Her father got her a personal trainer and she worked out with him everyday.  They were constantly working on her defense, three point shot and her pull up jumper.  At first, the girl was ok with it, and the results were amazing.  She was 6’4’’ and played the guard position.  No one could guard her, if they lay off, she shoots right over them and if they are up on her she can get to the basket in one dribble.  When it was time to begin the recruiting process everyone wanted her.  She was the number one recruit in the class of 2008.  Eventually, she decided to continue her basketball career at the University of Connecticut.  Everyone expected big things out of her and her team and coaches were ecstatic to add her to the roster, but no one saw what was coming.  After being at college for one week she made an announcement that she was quitting.

She made a public statement talking about how she hated basketball and how she did not understand how anyone could truly love the game.  The only reason she played for so long was because he dad wanted her to play so badly.  She said she could not play a sport she did not love anymore.  She ended up going back to her home state and playing volleyball at a small school. 

Her dad pushed her too far.  She was no longer playing the sport because she loved it, but because it had become her job.  It is becoming more and more common.  Parents are trying to live through their children and end up pushing them to hate the game they once loved.  I think parents need to be more supportive and helpful when it comes to their children.  Leave it to their coaches to pushing and let the parents be the support system.      

This entry was posted on 1. April 2009 at 23:38 and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.