"Expect the unexpected" is a perfect prediction for what'll happen when your child plays sports. After 22 years of being a sports mom, I can guarantee the journey will throw all sorts of curve balls at you. Some good, some not so good.

Here are 10 unexpected things you should expect as your child plays youth sports:

1. You might feel anger you’ve never felt

I thought kids could awake anger in me I didn’t knew existed, but that anger reached a whole new level when it came to protecting them.

I wanted to protect them from unfair officials calls, bullying teammates or coaches who didn’t play them as much as I felt they deserved. I never imagined I’d confront a referee after my daughter’s basketball game or an opposing team's player who was harassing my high school son, after his game. 

2. You'll feel pride like you’ve never known

Although kids can cause great frustration, they also bring feelings of immense pride. When they win the trophy, the championship or make the all-star team, you'll beam. And when they don’t get the accolades, but still come out on top with their attitude, leadership and strength, the pride will be even greater. 

RELATED CONTENT: Smart habits for athletic recovery

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.

3. You'll say things you wish you could take back

Think before you speak, especially after a difficult game. I learned that very hard lesson after one of my high school daughter’s volleyball games, when she was replaced on the court because of her play.

On the way to the car, I blurted, without thinking, “Aren’t you afraid you’re going to get replaced as the starting libero?”

I immediately regretted it, but it was too late. My daughter burst into tears and I hated myself. Biting your tongue is a skill every sports parent needs to learn.

4. You may do things you swore you’d never do

I never saw myself being a team mom type of person. But I stepped up to volunteer when no one else would. I never imagined I’d be that mom who emailed a coach about why my high school daughter didn’t get her name in the paper and another player did.

5. You learn others don’t agree with you on how skilled your child is

No one else will see what you see in your child. Parents often mistake potential for fact, and sometimes the result is coaches, teammates and other parents don't agree with your assessment of your kid's abilities. It’s called parent bias, and it doesn’t have to be a problem unless it pushes you to fix, control and otherwise interfere in your child’s sports.

RELATED CONTENT: Do you know the facts about youth sports injuries?

6. You'll spend money you can’t afford to spend

Youth sports are full of unexpected costs, things like tournament fees, gate fees, equipment you didn’t know your child needed and medical costs for injuries. In more than two decades of sports parenting, those costs caused major damage to our family wallet.

7. You'll feel the urge to coach your child even if you aren't a coach

It often happens on the way to a game. Or maybe later, at dinner, you feel the need to critique your child’s play and instruct them on how they can do better next time.

The problems with this are, A.) Your coaching and the coach’s instruction may not mesh, and that leaves your child confused, and B.) Your child mostly just wants you to be the parent and support them, not coach them. If they ask for help, great, give it to them. But if they don’t, leave the coaching to the coach. It really cuts down on stress at home.

8. You could have a coach who really doesn’t know what they are doing

Sometimes coaches accept the job because no one else will, or because their child is on the team, or maybe they’ve just always wanted to coach. The best way to handle it is to let your child learn what they can and enjoy it.

RELATED CONTENT: Here's one word that will change the game in youth sports

9. Your child may not love the game as much as you

There were times as my kids played sports that I cared about the outcome, playing time or their position more than than they did.

If your child doesn't love the game as much as you, it may indicate you're either too invested or your child just isn't that into it, in which case you might ask if they really want to play, or if they're doing it to please you.

10. You may not want to cheer for every player on your child’s team

I’m embarrassed to admit this. There were often kids on the team who were annoying or selfish and I just couldn't bring myself to cheer for them. I should've, because that’s the mature parent thing to do, but then there was that one kid who totally got on my nerves and I struggled to do the right thing.

As you expect the unexpected in your child’s youth sports journey, remember, sometimes the best moments are the ones you didn’t plan at all.

Janis B. Meredithis a parenting coach. She provides resources to help parents raise champions. Learn more about how she can help parents Raise Champions.