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Winning & Positive Parenting Actually Go Together!

Winning AND Positive Parenting Go Together
with Special Guest Jim Thompson

January 10, 2009

It happens daily, parents who are yelling, handing down ultimatums, arguing with coaches, screaming from the sidelines at other people’s children. And it’s all in the name of "support" for their children’s success as an athlete.

Head’s up Parents! Your well-intentioned behavior is more connected to burn out, drop out, and discipline from the referees/umpires than it is success.

Given that negative parenting behavior has become a National Sporting Crisis, I invited Author of Positive Sports Parenting, and Founder and Executive Director of the Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) Jim Thompson onto the show.

Here is what I took home from the conversation:

These Behaviors Can Only Change When the Definition of Success Includes LIFE Skills and Development. One of the most important messages of this new book and the ongoing teachings of PCA, as far as I’m concerned is the conceptualization of what it SHOULD mean to be a Parent, Competitor/Athlete or Coach.

If you value the definitions from this book, your behavior will begin to change as a result because you will catch yourself. This is a summary of Jim’s Definitions :

1. Double-Goal Coaches: Your job is to teach skills to achieve success in sports and generalize those lessons to non-sports life.
2. Triple-Impact Competitors (Athletes): Your success extends beyond the score and personal stats. You get to strive to be a successful performer, teammate and member of your community.
3. Second-Goal Parents: Get it… "Second" Goal. Notice you are not a Double-Goal partner like the coaches. That is because your ONLY focus should be on parenting at home and the character development of your off-field/court athlete.
I work with parents and athletes regularly who have strayed from these ideals, or simply didn’t realize that parenting an athlete doesn’t require a degree in coaching.

My message of "You are a parent of a child who happens to be an athlete, not the parent of an athlete who happens to be a child" goes hand-in-hand with PCA’s philosophy.

As a proud PCA Champion, I hope you invite us into your league or district for training on how to become a Certified PCA Partner. For more information about how to schedule a Training for your Coaches and Parents in Southern California, visit http://www.positivecoach.org/subcontent.aspx?SecID=2700.

-Until we speak again, this is Dr. Casey, and make all your performances and life its most excellent.