Help! As coaches and teachers, we accept the responsibility you have entrusted in us to teach your children. But improvement and progress can be made easier if you send us a coachable child.
The child you drop off at the gym or at the ball field is a product of your parenting. Some of the kids are eager, some show up unmotivated. Some get out of the car ready to listen and follow directions and others are ready to challenge everything the coach has to say. Some kids are positive, some negative. Thank goodness for the parents who are working at home to raise children who respect authority, are eager, happy, aggressive, and who realize the importance of learning!
Coaches and teachers too often have to "pull" some children to learn and improve with the child giving less than 100% effort. The more successful athletes and students are driven, and respectful and know that they are a work in progress. The children who are difficult to teach are the ones who are given too much, don't have to work for rewards, and are constantly told that they are terrific. How do you learn a hard work ethic when you are given everything?
We, parents/coaches/teachers, are in the business of building these children. Not by doing all of the work but by providing opportunities and guidance. Eventually, they leave us. Prepared to do it on their own? Prepared to expect others to make sure they are successful? Your choice.
On every team and in every class, there are coachable kids who will make it. The others in the class need extra help, have poor attitudes, whine, are pampered, and will have trouble relying on themselves when the time comes.
We are cheating our young people if we don't instill great traits when they are developing. Fall down, get up without looking for someone to help you. Try once, twice, and sometimes 3 times. Don't expect handouts. Life is a challenge and hard workers do better. Respect adults. Listen rather than speak so much. Understand that the adults in your life know a lot more than you do.
We are all cheating these kids if we don't have high expectations for them. Realistic high expectations tailored for each child. A "B" isn't good enough if they have the capability of an "A." A coach is "helping your athlete’ when they say "you could have performed better." Help us raise your children.
It is time the pampered, lazy, soft, entitled, selfish kids got a wake-up call Let's do it now rather than when they are driving off to college.
Tom Burgdorf – Author
Email: Tom@gymnetsports.com Web Site: www.Gymnetsports.net Face Book: Tom Burgdorf