Support for your child must be unconditional.
Be patient for the process, and enjoy it.
Understand how the developmental progression works for sports skills.
Be knowledgeable that many of the developmental milestones for sports skills cannot be accelerated beyond their natural limit.
Realize that physical, chemical, and mental development all affect ability and all progress along different timetables.
Support achievements as they occur. This will reduce pressure to achieve skills that are not quite ready.
Remember, your child has his or her own likes and dislikes and should be able to participate without pressure to choose a certain activity.
Remember that there are developmental patterns for chemical changes that allow your child to be able to progress in training intensity when it is time.
Understand the extra changes that occur in the puberty transition from child to teenager.
Don’t overreact to normal developmental processes and changes that occur during puberty and may temporarily affect ability.
Understand the profound developmental effect of a firm positive foundation of self-esteem on future performance and ability to handle competitive pressure.
Redefine success and make sure performance disappointments are not seen as failures that the child might take personally.
Teach your child that winning means a lot more than a gold medal (you first have to believe that yourself).
Encourage your child any way you can.
Find more things your child is doing right than things to criticize.
Support by being visible at their events.
Keep your comments positive without a lot of addenda or stipulations.
Help your children take some responsibilities for their sport without making them feel overwhelmed with duties.
Watch for warning signs of burnout or avoidance.
Remember your child is a child, not a child-sized adult.
Help your child set realistic goals (not your goals).
Allow changes in sports, and encourage exposure to different sports.
Instill a sense of value in exercise and fitness regardless of structured competition.
Communicate sincerely and often with your child about his or her desires.
Help your child build a strong sense of self-worth and identity that is not dependent on the sport itself or level of achievement.
Provide positive momentum by celebrating reality successes as often as possible.