St. Rose of Lima Athletic Association
Parental Sportsmanship Guidelines
As St. Rose of Lima strives to improve the sports program for our children, the Athletic Association feels that it is imperative that parents read and sign these parental sportsmanship guidelines prior to your child participating in their sport.
Parental Sportsmanship Guidelines:
1. As Parents/Guardians we can find it difficult to have our children be evaluated by others. With this in mind, focus your energies on how we can enhance the experience for our children. We should praise them for what they have accomplished on and off the field. We need to keep in mind that St. Rose of Lima sports is to help compliment our children’s catholic education. This experience should be both rewarding to you and your children.
2. The sporting activity your child participates in is for his/her enjoyment, As a Parent/Guardian, is our job to encourage them to try and do their best. The child should be having fun and gaining self-confidence while trying to gain new skills by their Coach that is teaching and mentoring them. With this in mind, we should refrain from criticizing our kids for not fulfilling our own expectations.
3. The primary objective for the Parent/Guardian is to see our child win. In comparison, the primary objective of our children is to have fun while participating in the sport. Our children feed off of our reactions. Losing does not have to be a bad thing. If we choose to react that way, then our children will react in the same manner. Life is full of many disappointments and losing can be one of them. It can also be a positive experience for our children, if we help guide them to it. By teaching our kids to always strive to do better and to pick themselves up after defeat, this can be one of the best lessons we teach them.
4. While wanting the best for our children, we can sometimes become emotional. With this emotion, we can sometimes lose sight of good judgment. When someone makes an unsportsmanlike comment to our children, coach, or spectator it is best to ignore it. If it should persist, it should be brought to the attention of the Coach, at the appropriate time (i.e., time out/break in the game). At this time, the Coach will bring’ it to the attention of the Official/Referee and they will determine what course of action should take place.
24-HourRule:
At St. Rose, the Athletic Association has implemented a 24-hour. As Parent/Guardians, it is our responsibility to show respect for the coaches as well as the officials/referees. We should keep in mind that the Coaches are volunteering their and doing their to help our children. With this in mind, St. Rose works with a 24-hour rule, which states no Parent/Guardian will confront a coach regarding playing time, coaching decisions, or anything else relating to the sporting event until a 24-hour period has passed after the sporting event has passed.
In addition, at no time is a Parent/Guardian permitted to confront an official/referee prior to, during, or after a sporting event about any issue relating to their child or the sporting event. The officials/referees are there to help keep your child safe and enforce the rules of the sport.
If a Parent/Guardian chooses to violate this 24-hour rule as determined by the coach, the Parent/Guardian will not be allowed to the next game and their child will not be able to participate in the next sporting event. If a second violation of the rule occurs, the Athletic Association will be informed and will determine what course of action will be taken including the possibility of being banned from the remainder of your child’s sporting events.
Keep in mind that not only will you be embarrassed, but you will most likely be embarrassing your child as well.
We all look at our children as the next greatest athlete at there chosen sport. However, the numbers show that most likely our child will not become a professional athlete. We should continue to encourage them to do their best. As Parents/Guardians, we need to keep things in perspective. Our children grow up too fast and we should take the time to enjoy watching them with pride and strive to have the same amount of enjoyment they are having. So sit back, relax and cheer on your Child and their team with the love and pride they desire.
I have read and understand the “Parental Sportsmanship Guidelines”. As Parent/Guardian, I will abide by these Guidelines in order to assure my child’s success and enjoyment in their chosen sport.
Name of Child: ______________________________
Signature: _________________________________________ Date: _______________
updated February 5, 2006