Parents, grandparents, and future parents of youth athletes, today’s newsletter is for you! The topic is “What Appropriate Behavior Looks and Sounds Like during Your Child’s Sporting Event.” Right off the bat, I will tell you that it doesn’t involve yelling, screaming, or being boisterous, which you are bound to encounter a parent or two or twenty if you have been to a youth sports game. Sports are emotional, and it makes sense that parents believe they are helping their child by either coaching from the sideline, arguing a call from the ref, giving instruction to the coach, or even shouting encouraging remarks. In reality, it’s a huge distraction. It’s stealing the focus and enjoyment of the game from your child.  
So, if you are one of those boisterous parents, take it down a notch or two. Be loud with your body language—clap, smile, fist pump. And be positively loud after an excellent play, a goal, a basket, a great pass, a display of effort, or during a stoppage in play. If you have burning ideas to share with your kid, discuss them with them after the match when the emotions from the game have settled.