As a coach, I have seen it all – young athletes who want to act cool before they have even mastered the basics of the game, players who are more concerned with their own stats than the success of the team, and kids who are simply not engaged in the game.

That’s why I believe that as parents and coaches, we must put a premium on positive body language and team attitude. Our kids need to understand that it’s not just about their individual success, but about the success of the team as a whole. It’s about being a good teammate and supporting one another, both on and off the field.

When I watch game film, I am not just looking at the performance of individual players. I am also checking to see what is happening on the bench. Are the players engaged in the game? Are they supporting their teammates? Or are they simply going through the motions?

If I see a player with a bad attitude or poor body language, no matter how talented they may be, they will not play on my team. I would rather lose a game than watch a team play with a “me-first” mentality.

As parents, it’s important that we support our young athletes by emphasizing the importance of teamwork and sportsmanship. We need to encourage them to be positive, supportive teammates and to prioritize the success of the team over their own individual goals.

We also need to remember that our kids are watching us. They are learning from our behavior and our attitudes. As parents and coaches, we need to model the behavior that we want to see in our young athletes. That means being positive, supportive, and always putting the team first.

In conclusion, coaching and parenting young athletes is a difficult task, but by emphasizing positive body language and team attitude, we can help our kids become successful on and off the field. Remember, it’s not just about winning games – it’s about instilling the values of teamwork and sportsmanship that will last a lifetime.