The parent's primary job is not to be the coach.

The parent’s job is to provide:

Support + Stability + Encouragement + Accountability

Parents should create an environment where the rider can learn, compete, fail, improve, and enjoy the sport.

Parents SHOULD:

  • Encourage effort.
  • Encourage preparation.
  • Help the rider establish routines.
  • Ask questions.
  • Listen.
  • Support healthy nutrition and hydration.
  • Help maintain equipment.
  • Ensure required safety equipment is available.
  • Help the rider arrive on time.
  • Support the coach’s instructions.
  • Celebrate improvement.
  • Model good sportsmanship.
  • Encourage respect for competitors and officials.

Parents SHOULD NOT:

  • Coach from the fence.
  • Yell technical instructions during a race.
  • Criticize the rider immediately after a mistake.
  • Blame officials.
  • Argue with other parents.
  • Confront competitors.
  • Pressure a child to race while injured or unwell.
  • Make winning more important than safety.
  • Compare their child negatively to teammates.
  • Use another rider’s performance to shame their child.