Score Points with your Home Team

According to the National Alliance for Youth Sports, more than 30 million boys and girls under tha age of 18 play organized sports. So if you have kids, there's a pretty good chance you'll find yourself a "sports parent" at some point. You'll quickly find that it's more than just driving them to games and practices or standing on the sideline cheering -- it can be a great experience.

Tips for Sports Parents

Sports have a tremendous impact on our kids as they learn about hard work and cooperation. Goodness knows there's enough advice out there about what NOT to do as a sports parent, but there's not always enough emphasis on what you CAN do to support your athlete and your team. Getting involved with your child's team is a great way to learn about what interests them and kids are always eager to show off their accomplishments. There are lots of ways to show your child that their involvement in sports matters to you and there's something to fit every schedule.

Here are some suggestions:

Volunteer

Youth sports can't survive without volunteers and it's tough for your athlete to succeed without your involvement. Coaches are volunteers themselves, and can often use a hand in many different ways. Fear not, though. We're all pressed for time, but there's lots of simple ways to support your athlete and your team.

It's always easier to volunteer to do something you enjoy doing anyway. For example, one mother on my youngest son's soccer team donates her embroidery services and our team gets customized jackets or bags rather than trophies at the end of the season. I enjoy using the Internet, so I started a blog for my oldest son's football team with pictures, schedules, and calendars. My son enjoys being the guy who knows when the pictures will be posted and he's even written some game recaps that we've enjoyed posting together and the team stays informed.

Bring the Snacks

From the game snack to the end of the year party, you can always provide something good to eat. Be known for a specialty treat that the team can always count on you from you. My daughter plays volleyball, and the parents provide a spread of different things for a "food table" at the tournaments. I brought chicken salad at the beginning of the season, and now it's what they demand every time, and Rice Krispies Treats are always popular, too.

Also, it's a good idea to have some breakfast snack ideas for those early morning games when it's not quite the time of day for sandwiches or cookies. My kids have always carried some Nutri-Grain Cereal Bars in their sports bags for morning or those times where they need to eat something quickly.

kid with basketball in front of chalkboard

Learn the Game

Since you're likely going to be around anyway, it's a good idea to learn the basic rules of the game, even if you're "not into" sports. Knowing what's going on makes it easier to watch, cheer (at the right times!) and enjoy the post-game conversation with your child. I've learned a lot about football, soccer and volleyball over the years but, I admit, am still working on rugby.

Get a Whistle!

People tend to shy away from coaching when they feel like they "don't know enough", but especially with young kids, most teams just need some help keeping everyone in one place, so why not jump in and help coach? Coaches can also always use someone to volunteer to be the "team parent" to do work such as send e-mail notices for practices and games and coordinate a snack schedule, as well as the end of the year party. While it does take some time, being a team parent is a great way to get to know the players and parents while doing something for the team.

Hungry for more? Snack on these other great ideas...

Top Tips for Teaching Sportsmanship

Respect the Other Team - Remind your child that the other team is made up of other children just like him/her. Sports should be about everyone having fun.
Celebrate Right - Make sure your children know it's great to celebrate a big win, but taunting another team or "rubbing it in" is never okay.
It's Okay to Lose - No one likes to lose, but remind your children that losing is a part of the game, too. Let your child know they are a winner regardless of the score.
Shake Hands after Every Game - Regardless of the outcome, shaking hands is the ultimate symbol of sportsmanship.
The Ref Rules - Make sure your team knows that shouting at the referee or umpire should never be tolerated.
Set an Example - More often than not, children look to their parents to see how to act and behave during a sporting competition. Be an example of how to behave at a sporting event.

Winning Snacks for Your Home Team

Hit the sidelines with the Cheez-It Crackers Multi-Packs and Variety Snack Packs of Rice Krispies Treats Squares, Grahams Bug Bites and Scooby-Doo! Sticks, to make a big splash!