Anyone who has listened to the show for awhile knows I spend alot of time at local ballfields. It's either baseball or softball a few times a week.
It's not unusual to hear parents cheering from the stands or shouting encouragement. Many times they coach from the stands which drives me and the other coaches CRAZY! I always want to say, "If you want to coach, give up three or four nights a week like the rest of us and volunteer, otherwise please be quiet so I can coach."
The point I want to make though is something I'm hearing more and more of this year. That's the parent that not only coaches from the stands, but criticizes and, at times, yells at their child from the stands. I don't even yell and I'm the coach. I believe in instruction,positive reinforcements and correcting mistakes when they happen with instruction on how to do it better the next time. What does yelling and criticizing accomplish? Most kids I know will shut down and tune you out.
Lately I've started worrying about some of these children. I wonder what they have to deal with at home. If the parent will yell and criticize at a park filled with people, what do they do at home behind closed doors?
