Eight Coaches Share Their Best Advice with Parents
by Jenn Morson
As parents, we want our children to have every possible opportunity to enrich their childhood, experience glory, and ensure their future success. In the world of athletics, that often translates to wins, trophies, and elite teams. We spoke to veteran coaches across a spectrum of sports and levels and asked them to share their most important advice to parents of athletes. Jamie Costello, U7 Coach, Broadneck Baseball & Softball Club “I’ve been coaching since the 90s at various wonderful clubs. The wisdom that I have is this: the more kids fall in love with the game, the easier it is to coach them. We don’t often think about it, but we’re asking six and seven year olds to go up in front of all these strangers and perform. This is why my team gives out game balls at every practice and game, not to the kid who is the greatest player, but to the one really putting in effort.”
Miss Tammy and Co-Director, Chrissy Ray, with some downtime at a competition. Photo credit DANIE Photography.
Tammy DePascal, Owner & Company Director, Creative Force Dance Center “My number one piece of advice I would give parents when starting out on their dance journey is to find the right studio environment and culture for their dancer. A strong technique-based program with a nurturing environment focused on making all dancers feel welcome, regardless of dance ability, will help dancers grow physically, emotionally and socially. While dancers grow their skill set, and the ability to control their bodies at different ages in their personal development, it is important for students to be in classes with their peers. I would encourage dancers and parents to focus on what they do well at any given time while working towards growing in all areas of dance. Studies show that dance and music classes help children with physical and brain development. In the right environment, families will grow and flourish in the art of dance while gaining a second family. Students will thrive while cultivating lifelong friendships.”
“The more kids fall in love with the game, the easier it is to coach them”. - Jamie Costello
My philosophy is this: I really want them to come back next year. I consider that a success. Because then they grow, and it is always a growing process. I want my kids to play all the positions and to be great teammates. Because years down the road when those teammates run into one another, they aren’t going to remember who won or who lost. They are going to remember all the fun they had with their teammates. That is what matters most.”
“In the right environment, families will grow and flourish in the art of dance while gaining a second family. Students will thrive while cultivating lifelong friendships.” - Tammy DePascal
Coach Jamie high-fiving his son Gio, 7, getting the team excited to play. Photo courtesy of Cheryl Costello, CosTELLo Your Story.
SUMMER 2024 | 81
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