Every parent is biased when it comes to their child’s abilities on the field of play. That's normal and natural because you love your children so much and want to see them do well.

But there's a time in youth sports when you must ignore your prejudices and face reality. Few parents can be objective while evaluating their own child, unless they’ve played or coached the sport themselves. It's parental instinct to respond emotionally to their performance differently than you do to another child's.

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Are you the parent of a youth, middle school or high school football player who’s looking for more tips or resources? Check out our Parent Guide, Parents 101 course, nutritious recipes and more.

Check these signs – are you overestimating your child’s skills? You could be if:

1. Your child consistently struggles and shows little or no improvement: This doesn’t mean they shouldn’t play sports. It just means they might not be as gifted as you think. To get a clear picture of your child’s progress, measure skill improvement in tangible ways.

2. You don’t agree with your child’s coaches about their ability: When more than one or two experienced coaches concludes that your child doesn’t have the athletic ability to play a certain position or even to make a team, it’s because they see something that you don't.

3. Other parents don’t agree with you, either: It was hard for me to admit my kids’ weaknesses in sports, but I was pretty objective about other players and could admit when one was particularly gifted. If your child does possess talent, I guarantee other parents will bring it up without you saying a word.

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4. Teammates don’t recognize it: If your child is a skilled athlete, their teammates will most likely acknowledge it. Respecting them is another matter. They must earn that themselves.

If you're overestimating your child’s abilities when it comes to youth sports, it’s really not such a bad thing. But when that overestimation drives you to push, control and manipulate your child’s sports experience because you feel they aren't getting a fair shake, then maybe it’s time to take a second look, this time without the rose-colored glasses.

If you think your child is really special, get a qualified, independent evaluator (not your private trainer or coach) to give you the truth.

Janis B. Meredith is a life coach for sports parents. She provides resources to help parents raise champions. Learn more about how she can help parents have Less Stress and More Fun in Youth Sports.This is an updated version of a blog that originally published August 29, 2016.