Whether your children walk out the front door, and drive themselves to the game or hop out of your car once at the field, the last words they hear from you should be something constructive and positive. 

After years of not being sure what I should say, I’ve come up with six words that I think resonate the most important points a parent can make to a child, of any age, playing at any level; I also use it as a coach when we huddle up right before kickoff. 

1.   “Play hard!”
It’s a reminder to always give 100 percent no matter the game situation or score so that when the final horn sounds they know they played as hard as they could, physically and mentally, and can walk away with no regrets.  

2.   “Play smart!”
The message is to remember the little things they’ve learned that have nothing to do with the physical part of the game but can have a major impact. Things like “watch the quarterback’s eyes”, “catch with your hands”, “take care of the ball.” 

Rather than go through the list itself, these two words hopefully become a self-reminder for your child as they mentally prepare for the game and then, hopefully, execute successfully.

3.  “Have fun!” 
I always end my “pregame speech” with this one because it really is what I want them to remember most. Win or lose, if they don’t have fun playing the game, eventually, they won’t want to participate, and they’ll miss out on all the positives that come from youth sports. This short phrase is not only the last thing I tell my boys before the game, but it’s my first question afterward; “Did you have fun?” 

Play smart, play hard, have fun. 

It’s a simple, yet powerful message. 

Jon Buzby has been involved in and writing about youth sports for the past 30 years, originally as a coach and board member with his now-adult son and most recently "just as a dad" with his 8- and 10-year-old sons. Jon is an award-winning writer and his latest book, “Coaching Kids Made Easier,” is available on Amazon. Send comments or future blog topics you'd like to see to JonBuzby@hotmail.com and follow him @YouthSportsBuzz on Twitter.