When it comes to sports in general, most parents want to be involved in their child's success. If you're a parent that has played sports, and more specifically the sport your child is involved in, then you'll know initially how to help your child out.
But sports evolve over time. If you haven't done your research or stayed on top of things then more than likely you may be behind the curve. If you're a parent that wants to be involved but has never played the sport, you'll want to learn and work a bit harder. This is particularly true when it comes to at home training.
Let's look at a few ways parents can become more involved and helpful with their kids sports.
Training at Home
Training at home is extremely important but it's not as easy as it sounds for many parents. We've been asked many different questions, but one of the most common is "Where do I start?"
If you're a parent that has played a sport or the sport your child is most interested in then you'll find success a bit more organically. There are so many training tools out there though for parents that may be wondering what they should be doing.
One great training tool are Dr. Dish Shooting Machines and the iC3 Shot Trainer. Even more specifically, the Dr. Dish Home version which syncs to a players app that features hundreds of drills and teaching tips. For the parents that are wondering, this can be an extremely valuable tool in your child's success. Not only will they train smarter and harder, they will also have a lot of fun doing it!
But if you're simply just looking for skills and drills, make sure to check out and sign up for our FREE 10 Day Virtual Camp designed with shooting, ball handling, agility drills, and more! This camp provides great structure and inspiration to get players better in multiple aspects of the game.
Learn to Listen
One thing as adults that we seem to forget is that our children are smarter than we think. Oftentimes we want to be the only ones directing and offering up suggestions on what to do. Sometimes its important to sit back and listen to what your kids want and are interested in.
This should occur on a day to day basis. Now, that doesn't mean they should get everything they want, but it's a good way for them to feel included and also allows them to develop important life skills as they get older.
Training is no different when it pertains to listening. Sometimes kids know themselves best and they know what they can do to become better based on THEIR ambitions. Take the time to listen and jump on their bandwagon from time to time to see if their success is driven that way. It's extremely hard to listen especially when its your kids. But if parents can learn to truly listen, there will be less tension, more fun, and an abundance of love spread both ways.
Positive reinforcement
Along with listening, positive reinforcement is huge when it comes to being involved as a parent. Many times, especially in sports, parents come down too hard on their kids. In turn, this will push them away from the sport and also their relationship with the parent.
Kids ultimately want their parents to be on their side and believe in what they're doing even when they aren't necessarily the best. This gives kids the drive and love for the game they need. When they have this motivation, they naturally will want to get better everyday. Positive reinforcement is telling your kids you are proud of them when they work hard - whether they succeed or fail.
A great place to start is by reminding them they can be better and will get better with time if they consistently work hard. This type of positivity exudes love and understanding and will help keep your kids engaged and also allow parents to be more involved on multiple levels.
Be Present
There is no way you can do the above without being present. Popping in here or there within a workout won't mean as much to kids unless you can consistently help. They want to see YOUR dedication especially if you're preaching it to them. Watch your kids play, help track their progress, join in on the fun, and develop memories with them each and every day. This is especially important during the summer and during time when they are stuck at home.
Kids will often let you know when they want you to be present and involved by their actions and sometimes it's hard to manage as a parent. But the more parents can actively support their kids, the better it will be down the line. Being present shows kids you care for them and want them to succeed.
Parents: Try your best to be involved by listening, being present, and being positive. Training tools like Dr. Dish shooting machines will help you along the way and in the end everyone will be happy and enjoy the time spent together.
For more information on how Dr. Dish can help you or your kid train, please give us a call at 888-887-7453 or click below to see how one of our first users and moms enjoys their Dr. Dish Home machine.
And remember, always train hard, train smart, and train with a purpose!