This article by Bruce E. Brown of Proactive Coaching LLC, from the Parents and Coaches Working Together collection, illustrates how over involved, stressed parents produce stressed out, poor performing athletes. Through the story of a father coaching his son from the bleachers at a youth baseball game, it identifies the damaging messages such behavior sends to young athletes and why parents should leave the instructional voice to the coach.
Introduction
Over Involved, Stressed Parent = Stressed Out, Poor Performing Athlete
On a speaking trip this summer, I arrived several hours early and was taking a walk near the school when I came upon a baseball game at a local field. The boys were probably 13 or 14 years old. I sat down to watch an inning or two. There were probably only about 30 people in attendance but one man got my attention immediately. He was sitting in the front row of the bleachers looking extremely intense and tense. He was watching the game and his team was ahead 3 to 1 but he seemed to be totally focused on his son.