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We will attempt to inform, advise, sometimes entertain,
and provide you with links to items of interest on the
web, and perhaps find you discounts on products, etc.
In general, we will attempt to pack this page with
information important to you. The
Crofton Athletic
Council considers our relationship with the parent
members of the council the most important link to
providing the best possible youth sports experience for
our children. We sincerely hope the Parents Corner
becomes a very important stop for you on our web site.
County Baseball Practice Schedules are Online!
SportsParents Home Page
Sports Illustrated Online Sports Games
Parent's Perspectives:
An article that talks about "Dealing with the Worried Child".
Parent's Perspectives
Dealing with the Potential Drop Out
A child’s decision to drop out of sports can be very emotional for the child and the parents. How do you, as parents, handle it? Because every situation is different there are a wide variety of answers. Presented below are two viewpoints, both written by former athletes who are now coaching at the college level.
What to do when your child quits a sports team. by Megan Brenner
Some of the proudest moments for parents are standing on the sidelines watching their children participating in athletic contests or practices. Unfortunately, your child may become disinterested for a variety of reasons and quit a team. As a parent, anger and frustration may ensue, especially if your child is very talented. It is important to find the root of the problem and discuss it with your youngster. He may have quit in a tantrum at a game or practice because of a certain referee or coach's decision. In this case, your child may simply need to calm down and have the situation re-ascending order for him to understand that quitting may not be the correct decision. Your child may have also had negative social encounters with team members on or off of the field which contributed to his disinterest in the game. It could be a case of low self-esteem reinforced by coaches or peers, or simply boredom of the sport. In each case, it is important as parents to evaluate the situations which led to your child's decision to quit. It may simply be that he is no longer happy playing a particular sport, and may wish to try something new. Look for signs of disinterest and keep involved in your child's athletic endeavors.
Parental Pressure on the Young Athlete. by Brent Pry
So often parents are criticized for pressuring their children to compete in athletics. The story is usually that if a parent puts pressure on their child to participate or "not to quit", the end result will be an increase in the child's distaste for the sport. In many cases this is probably true. However, the opposite is likely to be true just as often. The opposite being that pressure applied by the parent is beneficial to the young athlete, and keeps he or she participating. Frequently athletes feel gratitude towards their parents and their efforts in pushing them through the tough times and not letting them quit. This is especially true when the athlete has achieved some degree of success in their sport, or it has been a rewarding experience for them. Certainly, there is a fine line as to where this pressure should be applied. Each parent, each child, and each situation is different, and should be handled as such. This article merely argues that a parent should not always rule out using some degree of pressure when wanting to encourage their child to compete. Remember competition is everywhere in life and today's young people will benefit by experiencing it early. Athletics give children an opportunity to learn the competitive spirit. If it is in the child's best interest, and not the parents, some pressure would be considered positive.
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