Your Role As A Little League Parent
Local Little Leagues are entirely volunteer organizations. Each league depends on adults like you to organize and conduct every aspect. Not only do adults serve as administrators, volunteer coaches, and umpires they also help with field maintenance, fund-raising, concessions, and numerous other special projects.
Your willingness to exchange time and effort for your child's benefit and enjoyment is very important to the functioning of your local Little League. Cheering your daughter or son on from the stands is one important way to be involved, but we invite you to do even more by volunteering to help run your local Little League program.
Without a doubt, Little League is a family affair that gives parents and children a common ground for spending time together. Whether you are coaching the players, selling popcorn to the fans, or bringing soda for the team after the game, your family will enjoy being a part of Little League in your community. Most of all, your will appreciate the benefits of your enthusiasm and involvement in his or her activities.
When wining is kept in perspective, there is room for fun in the pursuit of victory or more accurately, the pursuit of victory is fun. With your leadership Little League can help your child learn to accept responsibilities, accept others and most of all, accept her - or himself.
Keeping Winning in Perspective
Are you able to keep winning in perspective? You might answer with a confident yes, but will you be able to do so when it is your child who is winning or losing, when your child is treated a bit roughly by someone on the other team, or when the umpire makes a judgment against your child? Parents are sometimes unprepared for the powerful emotions they experience when watching their sons and daughters compete.
One reason that parents' emotions run to high is that they want their children to do well; it reflects on them. They also may believe that their children's failures are their own. Parents need to realize that dreams of glory they have for their youngsters are not completely unselfish, but they are completely human. Parents who are aware of their own pride, who are even capable of being amused by their imperfections, can keep themselves well under control.
Being a Model of Good Sportsmanship
Flying off the handle at games or straining relations with the coach or other parents creates a difficult situation for your child. Just as you don't want your daughter or son to embarrass you, don't embarrass your Little Leaguer.
It's no secret that kids imitate their parents. In addition, they absorb the attitudes they think lie behind their parents' actions. As you go through the Little League season with your child, be a positive role model. How can you expect your child to develop a healthy perspective about competing and winning if you display an unhealthy one? Remember Little league is supposed to be a fun experience for your child, and one in which he or she will learn some sport skills. Winning will take care of itself.
Some parents seem to abandon good principles of child rearing when their child is participating in sports. However, just as your child's home, school, and religious environment affect the type of person he or she will be, so does the sport environment especially when your child is young. Remember this:
If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.
If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.
If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive.
If children live with praise, they learn to like themselves.
If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.
If children live with recognition, they have to have a goal.
If children live with honesty, they learn what trust is.
PARENTS RESOURCES
PARENTS CODE OF CONDUCT
We, the Olivehurst Linda Little League, have
implemented the following Sport Parent Code of
Conduct for the important message it holds about the proper role of parents in supporting their child in sports.
A PARENTS GUIDE TO THE LITTLE LEAGUE CHILD PROTECTION PROGRAM
The backbone of Little League® is the adult volunteer. One million strong, it is this corps of dedicated people who coach the teams, umpire the games, work in the concession stands, serve on the local board of directors, and serve at the District level. These people, who live in every U.S. state and more than 100 other countries, make Little League the world’s largest and most respected youth sports organization.
EMOTIONAL SECURITY
An understanding of children is the most important component of the Little League program. Adults working with youth should be constantly aware of emotional security and attitudes of children under their direction.
THIS IS LITTLE LEAGUE
To assist youth in developing qualities of citizenship, discipline, teamwork and physical well-being, with proper guidance and exemplary leadership.
LITTLE LEAGUE GREATEST CHALLENGE
A penetrating study and current analysis of the manager’s role, responsibility and position of leadership in Little League.
KEEPING YOUR GLOVE
ASPlease keep in mind this process should be used on high quality gloves made of 100%
leather, like a Barraza Glove, as this process may shorten the life of synthetic materials.
10 Commandments for Parents
This represents a basic set of guidelines for parents that are designed to help foster a successful environment for players and members of our community.
