Are you content with your child’s youth sports experience? Here’s how you can tell if you are:

• You don’t stress about playing time or position.
• You can sit down and enjoy the game without getting upset at someone.
• You are not counting the days until the season ends.
• You are not nagging your child to do something better — practice more, work harder, concentrate.

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If you find yourself guilty of one of these, then I’d like to suggest a way you can be content during your child’s youth sports experience, no matter what happens. It will require you to completely change the way you look at youth sports. 

This is a huge mindset change and it’s one that many parents are either not aware they need, or they are simply not willing to address it.

But if you find that you are doing one of the four above behaviors, then a mindset change in how you look at youth sports is definitely in order.

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Where do I begin to change my youth sports perspective?

The simple first step is admitting that you are not enjoying your child’s youth sports journey and finding yourself way too stressed about things that really won’t matter in one, two, five or 10 years. Then it’s time to start asking yourself some questions and being honest about your answers.

• Why am I signing my children up for youth sports? 
• What am I hoping my children will get from this experience?
• When my children are done playing sports, what will they remember most?
• What might I be doing that hinders my children from growing through this experience?
• What do my children want and need from me as they play sports?

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As you ask yourself these questions, write down the question and the answer. Then read it over, even out loud, to yourself. Is this the way you truly want to view youth sports? Is this view of youth sports that is best for your child’s emotional and physical growth?

Keep this paper or journal where you can easily find it when you face frustrations or find yourself feeling agitated about something that’s happening in youth sports. As you read it over and over, reminding yourself of what you really want for your child. You just may find yourself starting to change the way you view the experience.

Mindset changes are a process, so don’t get frustrated when you mess up and forget what’s important. Keep reminding yourself of what you really want for your child and what your child really needs and your perspective will change. It’s a simple process, but it’s not an easy one.

The way you, Mom and Dad, look at youth sports will affect how much you enjoy the experience and how much your child benefits from the journey. This is within your power to change, if you are willing to do the emotional and mental work.

Janis B. Meredith is a life coach for parents. She provides resources to help parents raise champions. Learn more about how she can help parents Raise Champions. This post is an excerpt from her book, 11 Habits for Happy and Positive Sports Parents.