Parents

Being a sport parent is challenging. Most parents lack independent and meaningful knowledge about what is appropriate in the sporting environment. The current sports environment is typically over competitive, focuses too much on winning/losing, and is over focused on early maturation and early specialization. There is significant evidence that the current sporting environment promotes early dropout, high incidences of injury, maladaptive behaviors and loss of confidence and self-esteem for a high number of children. Parents often feel scared about their child being left behind and have no independent source of information & guidance.

Our mission at SPG is to be that independent resource for parents & athletes to ensure they receive the right information. We don’t pick the team; make the selection or the cuts. Our investment is the safety and wellbeing of your child, and enabling them to reach their potential; whether this is a recreational athlete or a future Olympian.

We offer a range of services and resources for parents in support of their children in sport.

Here at SPG we dispel myths about youth sport and are advocates for safe practice in youth sport

 

Resources

SPG provides a wide variety of resources to guide parents in the youth sporting environment. This includes our free monthly newsletter KIdsinSport


Parent Seminars

We run a year round program of parent seminars to disseminate key information, dispel myths in youth sport, and to give a forum for parents to ask key questions regarding sports participation. Listed below are examples of parent seminars we run both locally and regionally. Seminars can also be tailored to meet groups’ specific needs; please contact us to discuss your needs.


How to be a ‘successful’ sports parent

Course outline

    • How to choose a coach/program for your child
    • What is a good coach/sports program?
    • Early specialization…is it necessary for success?
    • How much is too much?
    • Balancing school, family and athletic life
    • Red flags in coaching environments
    • Parenting challenges and how to overcome them


Issues in Youth Sport

These unique seminars tacklethe key performance issues present in youth sport today and makes key recommendations.

Key issues include:

    • Overuse injuries – common injuries in youth sports, how to recognize them, how to prevent them, what medical/treatment support to use/avoid
    • Safe environments – ensuring your child is safe in the sport environment including safety at practice, travelling with coaches, child protection issues, and red flags
    • Supporting your child in competitive sport - how much to be involved, how to feedback, what support to provide and what to avoid


The CARE™ Environment

This seminar educates parents regarding SPG’s unique CARE environment.CARE enables coaches/volunteer parents to create a positive motivational climate, developing quality motivation and the adaptive behaviors necessary for success in both sport and life, and maximizing the sports experience of every young child. This is the future for youth sport.

Course outline

    • Understand the key learning environment issues in youth sport
    • Understand the principles of the CARE environment
    • Demonstrate how every child benefits regardless of ability
    • Challenge existing practices
    • Outline what parents should demand and expect from coaches/youth organizations