09/17/2026
Sideline Etiquette, Part 2
Last time we talked about what we say and do from the sidelines. But this time, we’re going a little deeper.
Because sometimes the hardest part of youth sports isn’t managing our kids’ emotions. It’s noticing our own.
The embarrassment when they make a mistake.
The anger when they don’t get playing time.
The comparison to another child.
The urge to blame the coach or ref.
The disappointment when they don’t care about the loss as much as we do.
Before we react, it’s worth asking:
Is this about what my child needs right now... or about what this is bringing up in me?
Cheer loudly. Love watching them play. Let them struggle. Let the coach coach. Let the ref ref. Let other kids be kids.
And most importantly, let their sports experience belong to them.
