A New Season for Them, and for You
A new youth sports season is here, and with it comes a wave of emotions: Excitement. Nervous energy. Hope. Maybe even a little anxiety, for both our kids and for us.
Whether your child is trying something new or heading back for another year of competition, this season brings a fresh opportunity. It’s not just a chance for them to grow. It’s also a chance for us, as parents, to grow in how we show up and support them.
It’s easy to focus on the logistics. The carpool schedule. The tournament weekends. The uniform orders and team chats and snack sign-ups. But beyond all that, something more important is happening.
Our kids are learning who they are through sport. They are stretching, struggling, succeeding, and sometimes falling short. And as parents, one of the best things we can do is be a steady presence while they go through it all.
That isn’t always easy.
Watching our children compete can stir up a lot inside us. It might bring back memories of joy we once knew or surface old disappointments from dreams we didn’t get to chase. We might find ourselves cheering a little too loudly or feeling more invested than we expected. That is completely normal. It means you care.
Still, the most powerful support we can offer is to give them space to have their own experience.
That might look like this:
Letting them practice the skills that excite them
Letting them learn at a pace that works for them
Letting them play for their reasons, not ours
Letting them fail, succeed, and figure things out
Letting them discover interests and identity outside of sports
John O’Sullivan from the Changing the Game Project says it well:
“The balanced sports parent is a quiet observer of the game, there to watch their child have fun and learn without any desire to interfere with the process.”
Your child does not need you to coach. They do not need analysis after every game or extra drills on the weekends. They need you to be calm when things are chaotic. They need you to remind them that they are more than a stat sheet or a starting spot.
And while you’re supporting them, don’t forget to support yourself too.
If you find yourself feeling tangled up in their journey, that is okay. It just might be a sign that this season is a chance for you to grow as well.
You don’t have to relive your childhood through your kids. You don’t have to chase your old dreams by grabbing onto theirs. There is enough joy and meaning in the experience for both of you.
So as your child heads into their new season, let them grow into who they are becoming. Let them take the lead. Let them own the journey.
And while they do, give yourself permission to grow too.
We’re all learning as we go. Let this season be one of growth for them and for you.