If you have a child in sports, you want to see them do well. It’s a simple fact, but many parents are at a loss at how to encourage their children to do well in their chosen sport. While many movies and TV shows can portray parents and athletes having a toxic relationship, that doesn’t have to be the case in real life- there are many success stories in which a parent was a child’s biggest driving influence to achieve.

1. Create a Healthy Attitude About Sports

In movies and TV, you always see a parent that cares much more about their child’s sport than the child does, and is forcing them to participate. Don’t let that become your household, and take steps to make your child know that you support them for them. Don’t compare them to other players, or measure their worth on whether or not they win a match. Remember- it’s their journey, not yours, and keeping a little bit of distance from that can help. Don’t push your child further than they want simply because you want to live vicariously through them.

2. Increase Your Positive Interactions

There are several different ways to show your appreciation towards your athlete, and positive social interactions are one of them. Encourage your child, but don’t force them into a path that they don’t want. Understand their long-term goals, and work with them to achieve those. Don’t let tennis become everything in your child’s life- make sure that there’s plenty of other time for everything else. Keep your wins in perspective- while it’s really cool for your child to be doing well, make sure that that isn’t the only thing you like about them.

3. Find Good Ways To Cheer Your Kid On

Every parent wants to be there at their kid’s match, but there are always a few parents in the stands who take it a little too seriously. Make sure you’re not embarrassing your kid on the court, and refrain from telling the coach how to do his job. Make sure to stay in the stands during matches, and don’t be insulting towards any of the other players or coaches.