RECOMMENDED GUIDELINES FOR SUCCESSFUL SPORT PARENTING
(ADAPTED FROM US TENNIS ASSOCIATION AND US SWIMMING)
INTRODUCTION PHASE
TRANSITIONAL/REFINEMENT PHASE
ELITE PERFORMANCE PHASE
AGE OF ATHLETE: 5-9 YEARS
AGE OF ATHLETE: 10-14 YEARS
AGE OF ATHLETE: 15+ YEARS
 ALLOW CHILD TO DREAM BIG
 PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION, AND
 BE CAREFUL TO CARE ABOUT YOUR
LOGISTICAL AND FINANCIAL
CHILD AS A PERSON AND NOT JUST
 ENSURE PRACTICES FOCUS ON FUN
SUPPORT
AND FUNDAMENTALS

RECOGNIZE CHILD'S INTEREST AND


GOOD PERSON (EMPHASIZE
BECOMES MORE INDEPENDENT
RANKINGS
POSITIVE ATTITUDE AND LIFE
EXPOSE AND ENCOURAGE
SKILLS)




FACILITATE INDEPENDENCE IN
COACH WHO UNDERSTANDS WHAT
RESPONSBLE FOR EQUIPMENT,
FOCUS ON WAYS TO DEVELOP A
IT TAKES TO DEVELOP AN ELITE
COMMITMENTS, AND SCHEDULING
GOOD PERSON (EMPHASIZE
ATHLETE


LET COACH DO HER/HIS JOB
EMPHASIZE GOOD BEHAVIOR AND

LET COACH DO HER/HIS JOB

EMPHASIZE GOOD BEHAVIOR AND




INFREQUENTLY TALK ABOUT
DO NOT TRY TO COACH—SIMPLY
DON'T CONSTANTLY TALK ABOUT
PROVIDE GENERAL
SWIMMING AT HOME
ENCOURAGEMENT

STAY OUT OF
COACHING/TECHNICAL ANALYSIS
SWIMMING AT HOME

BELIEVE IN CHILD AND HER/HIS
ABILITY
SPORTSMANSHIP
STAY CALM DURING COMPETITIONS
STAY CALM DURING COMPETITIONS
LET COACH DO HER/HIS JOB
EMPHASIZE GOOD BEHAVIOR AND
SPORTSMANSHIP

HELP ATHLETE RECOGNIZE SPORT
AS YOUR CHILD EXPERIENCES
AS A GAME OF HIGHS AND LOWS—
SWIMMING
MORE SUCCESS KEEP SUCCESS IN
WORK TO STAY EMOTIONALLY
PROVIDE UNCONDITIONAL LOVE
PERSPECTIVE BY EMPHASIZING
EVEN
AND SUPPORT
NORMAL CHILDHOOD CHORES AND
BELIEVE IN YOUR CHILD
RESPONSIBILITIES
EMPHASIZE ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE
PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION
PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
PARTICIPATE

AND ENCOURAGEMENT
STAY CALM DURING COMPETITIONS
FOCUS ON THE POSITIVE
SPORTSMANSHIP

PROVIDE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT
YOUR CHILD BY MAKING HER/HIM
SKILLS)




IDENTIFY A KNOWLEDGABLE
POSITIVE ATTITUDE AND LIFE

BE READY TO LESSEN YOUR
FOCUS LITTLE ATTENTION ON
SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES




INVOLVEMENT AS YOUR CHILD
PARTICIPATION IN MULTIPLE


ATHLETE LEARNS TO PUSH SELF
PRESSURE TO PERFORM INCREASES

LESSEN OPTIMAL PARENT PUSH AS
FOCUS ON WAYS TO DEVELOP A
SUCCESSFUL


DO THINGS TO ENSURE THAT
SWIMMING REMAINS FUN AS
PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES AND
SUPPORT TO HELP HER/HIM BE
AS AN ATHLETE
AVOID PRESSURING YOUR CHILD





DO NON-SPORT FAMILY ACTIVITIES
SPORT ACTIVITIES TO MAINTAIN
BELIEVE IN YOUR CHILD WHILE
NORMALCY

EXPECTATIONS
PROVIDE UNCONDITIONAL LOVE
AND SUPPORT
STRESS BASIC VALUES: WORK
HARD, IF DO IT, DO IT WELL, TAKE


HELP CHILD DO SOME OTHER NON-
MAKING
HAVING APPROPRIATE SPORT

PROVIDE HONEST FEEDBACK TO
YOUR CHILD

INVOLVE CHILD IN DECISION
REASSURE/RELAX YOUR CHILD


DO NON-SPORT FAMILY ACTIVITIES
SERVE AS RESOURCE IN DECISION
RESPONSIBILITY FOR SELF AND
PROCESS/VOICE OPINIONS BUT LET
ACTIONS, NEED TO MAKE
YOUR CHILD MAKE THE FINAL
SACRIFICES IF WANT TO BE GOOD
DECISION
AVOID POST SWIM MEET CRITIQUES
NEVER INTERUPT PRACTICE

DO NOT CONSTANTLY TALK ABOUT
SWIMMING AT HOME
CWS GUIDELINES FOR SUCCESSFUL SPORT PARENTING



DISCIPLINE CHILD FOR POOR
HARD, IF DO IT, DO IT WELL, TAKE
DISRESPECTFUL ACTIONS
RESPONSIBILITY FOR SELF AND
DISCUSS SERIOUS ISSUES WITH
ACTIONS, NEED TO MAKE
COACH IN PRIVATE, NOT IN FRONT
SACRIFICES IF WANT TO BE GOOD
OF YOUR CHILD

PROVIDE OPTIMAL PUSH: MAKE


TO SWIM AND, IF SO, HOLD
TRY TO HAVE NON-EMOTIONAL
REACTIONS TO MISTAKES

HER/HIM ACCOUNTABLE TO
REMIND ATHLETE THAT WHILE
TRAINING COMMITMENTS
STAKES ARE HIGH, IT IS STILL
FOCUS ON LONG-TERM
IMPORTANT TO HAVE FUN

DEVELOPMENT, NOT WINNING

DON'T PROVIDE POST
COMPETITION CRITIQUES
SURE YOUR CHILD REALLY WANTS

STRESS BASIC VALUES: WORK
SPORTSMANSHIP OR
IDENTIFY A KNOWLEDGABLE
MAKE YOUR CHILD MORE
COACH WHO UNDERSTANDS WHAT
RESPONSIBLE FOR HER/HIS SPORT
IT TAKES TO DEVELOP AN ELITE
PREPARATION (I.E., EQUIPMENT,
ATHLETE
COMPLETION OF OTHER

OBLIGATIONS SUCH AS
HOMEWORK)
DO NOT CHANGE WHEN THE
STAKES BECOME HIGHER

PROVIDE SUPPORT SUCH AS
DEALING WITH FINANCES
As a parent of a Columbia-Willamette swimmer I agree to follow these guidelines. I understand that these
guidelines also apply to my behavior toward my child's teammates.
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Parent Signature
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Parent Signature
CWS GUIDELINES FOR SUCCESSFUL SPORT PARENTING