Does your little one love rugby? Are you an aspiring rugby parent and all this pitch talk and etiquette is something new to you?
School rugby certainly brings out the passion in people and the crazy sports parent isn’t that uncommon. Schoolboy rugby is the lifeblood of the sport and we need to help our children become happy, healthy and confident young athletes. After all, our little heroes having fun on their school field are the future giants of premier national tournaments like the Absa Currie Cup.
Here are some key pointers to maintain a healthy love of children’s sport for both you and your child:
Keep comments as positive as possible Constructive criticism is a learning curve for children, but what you yell out at the Springboks isn’t the same as you’d yell at your kid’s opposition on the weekend.
Speak respectfully about the players and to each other This applies to the ‘lighties’, their coaches, as well as to your fellow parents – opposition or not. Keep statements considerate, that way they are more accurate. Try not to succumb to belittling the opposition or the fans – it doesn’t win any friends.
Don’t become that crazy sports parent Learn how to best support your child. Swearing is not only inappropriate, it’s really tacky and only serves to embarrass your child and add pressure.
Fun is key The biggest motivation for kids to play sports is having fun, and your role as parent is to ensure this. It’s the child’s desire to play that matters, not the parent’s desire to have the child play.
Always use positive encouragement Encouraging your kids to play sports is one of the best ways to help them develop healthy habits that will last a lifetime. Encourage your child to compete against himself and use competition as a way to improve his own abilities.
Don’t over emphasise winning Focus rather on fully participating or risk making your child too anxious to do their best during a game. Emotional support means accepting your child for who they really are and not just the winning athlete.
Don’t push your goals on your child Seeking out your own identity though your child’s success is a no-no. Your kid is unique with individual interests and goals – allow them to define their own goals.
Be interested and supportive Don’t push your child too hard or be too serious – enjoy your child and let them learn by making mistakes. Allow them to set their own goals and achieve under their own steam. Be supportive even though you may not enjoy the sport yourself.
Be smart! Valid concerns about safety are fair. Check out www.boksmart.co.za for guidelines and protocol that all school rugby should follow – it will give you insight into nutrition for your future baby Bok, info around gear and all-important safety etiquette that keeps our little champions out of harm’s way on the rugby pitch.
Ultimately, playing rugby and indeed playing any sport as a child is about having a good time, growing, developing and learning important social skills. So sit back and cheer for the whole team and the opposition too.
As an exciting day out for your little rugby aspirant, why not take your whole family to Absa Kings Park to see the professionals at work. Tickets from R30.
Visit www.absacurriecup.co.za for more info.