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Found this great article which made me think where do you draw the line between being a "pushy parent" and really encouraging a talent?
These fathers showed true support for their sons and clearly that has paid off
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/oct/20/jenson-button-lewis-hamilton-fathers
However have they forfeited the father son relationship in favour of one of manager/client?
I think the difference between a supportive parent and a pushy parent is when the child taking part in the sport is about results and performance rather than having fun.
Whatever sport a child takes part in the parents first words after a match or race is over should be "did you have fun ? I enjoyed watching you".
How many times do youth football players tell someone they have played a match and the first question they hear is "Did you win" or "what was the score" rather than "did you have fun" And that's just the simplest form of pressure.
For a child to succeed in any sport they should feel comfortable to take risks and try new things without fear of failure. When the FA did a survey on children who had dropped out of football -something like 85% of them stated pressure to win or be good was the reason they stopped playing. The fact it was no longer fun also featured highly.
I think these parents sound like they have been supportive rather than pushy and surely that's what a parent is all about.
they have been supportive rather than pushy and surely that's what a parent is all about
Hmmm. I'm sure shouting features in there somewhere. And terrible puns.
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