TODD BURGOS TALKING TO 2ND, 3RD & 4TH GRADERS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION & WORKING HARD

Fall 2012 UPDATE

Former Golden Era player, Todd Burgos came by our Fall of 2012 Program today and spoke with 2nd, 3rd and 4th graders about the importance of doing good in school and working hard. Great talk to the younger guys. Truly appreciated!

Making it official! Golden Era 18U player Joey Marchini signs scholarship

Fall of 2012 Program Kicks Off

Fall 0f 2012 Program Players (Pre-High School)

Fall Pre-High School Program kicks off. Awesome workout guys and way to work hard!

FALL of 2012 PLAYERS (PRE HIGH SCHOOL)

Golden Era Baseball would like to welcome to following Pre-High School players to our Fall Player Development Program! Time to have some fun and get to work guys...

Adam Birt
Aemilio Heredia

Aidan Pearce
Anthony Giannini
Ben Gee
Benjamin Ferron
Bill Grandson
Blake Smith
Brian Berger
Britten Hallford
C.J. Hudson
Caleb Dawson
Cody Flitton
Cole Davis
Daniel Dinerman
Danny LaFortune
Dominic Hudson
Gabriel Tovar
Griffin Hamlin
Hunter
Ian Pascual
Jack Flitter
Jack Harris
Jack McCullar
Jacob Berger
Jason Mooar
Jeremy Cressio
Jeremy Volpe
Jordan De Alba
Jordan Webb
Josh Baker
Kirk Lawrus
Marcus McClenon
Matthew Miles
Matthew Miles
Maximo Guzman
McRae Grace
Nathan Hufford
Nehemiah House
Nick Momaney
Nick Sunderland
Nikita Korolev
Owen Wilson
Primo Rodriguez
Robert Beasley
Robert Ruiz lll
Rocky Sizemore
Ryan Beasley
Ryan Mooar
Samuel Hoff
Shuichi Roundtree
Thomas Garcia
Trey Percario
Wiliam Brown
Will Fitzhugh
Will Hofstede
Yuichi Roundtree
Zan Lederer
Zion Michael

FALL OF 2012 PLAYER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM SET TO BEGIN THIS SUNDAY!

Welcome again to our Fall of 2012 Player Development Program. For some of you this Sunday is a reunion, to get back together with old friends as well as to start making some new ones.

For others, this is the beginning to being with Golden Era Baseball, a road that starts young and that one day may end up seeing your player move on to College. It’s a journey, and we look forward to sharing that journey with you.

We believe baseball is a life-classroom, and coaches are some of the most important influences ever encountered by the youth of any generation.

We know this, and we understand this, so what we strive to bring is a positive environment with organization and structure, surrounded by qualified coaches and individuals who love the game and will do everything we can to help every single player within the program begin to reach their potential.

More importantly though, a lot more importantly, our coaches strive to give the players we work with the understanding and importance of team-work, the importance of values and character, how to handle adversity, responsibility and how to be a leader, not to mention everything else the life classroom of being out on a field create. Those are the staples; those are the grounds of the Golden Era program.

Playing the game the right way and everything it has to give, that experience at the end of the day is what we are striving to offer. And that experience is something players can carry with them for a lifetime.

Where it all starts…

Everything at Golden Era Baseball starts with our philosophy or program definition of success:

Give it your all… Give it everything you have…

And try to do the best you’re capable of doing. 

We honestly believe if you do that, if you give it our all, if you give it everything you have and try to do the best you’re capable of doing… Then one could ALWAYS look back and consider what they’ve done a success.

That philosophy is the benchmark of Golden Era Baseball, it is our standard.

If a player gives it his all, if he gives it everything he has… and tries to do the best he’s capable of doing… then what more could he have done? That is how we measure success within Golden Era Baseball.

This Fall we truly look forward to working with the players and trying our best and giving it everything we have as a Coaching Staff, to help each player begin to reach their true potential … both on the field and off.

To everyone, we wish you all a great Fall Player Development Program, and now it’s time to hit the field and start having some fun and getting to work…

Golden Era Baseball

Savino

Congratulations to 18U Golden Era Coach, Savino Ruvalcaba, who has accepted the position to coach at Irvington High School in Fremont. We're happy for you Savino and wish your high school squad a great spring season!

Todd Burgos University of Redlands Bound

East Bay, CA (August, 2012)

Golden Era Baseball’s standout centerfielder and left handed pitcher Todd Burgos has decided to play his college baseball at University of Redlands.

Burgos is coming off a very solid summer season where he was a fixture in the middle of Golden Era’s 18U batting order and a dominant pitcher on the mound.

Even though Todd has Division 1 talent as a baseball player, both as a pitcher as well as a position player, he decided a smaller school with high academics was a great long term fit for him.
Golden Era Coach Derek Bell says, “I’m really excited for Todd, not only because he’s going to end up moving on to play college baseball at University of Redlands, but he’s also going to play the same position at the same school I did in college. It’s a great moment.

Coach Bell added, “Todd is one of those special players, not because of what he can do as a player even though that in its own right is special… but what sets Todd apart are the intangibles he brings to the field every day. He’s a natural leader, has all of his teammates respect and has a work ethic that is tough to match”

“On top of everything Todd brings to the table on the baseball field, more importantly, Todd is an exceptional person, who I have seen first-hand donate his time to help others and to be a mentor to younger players coming up. I believe Todd is going to be successful in any walk of life because of everything that makes up who he is. I personally, and we as a program could not be more proud of Todd and we wish him the best of luck playing baseball at the college level”.

Todd say’s, “It feels good to be out of high school and knowing that I’m going to be playing baseball at the next level. I’m excited to play with a bunch of guys who love the game as much as I do. I’d also like to say thank you to my Golden Era teammates, you guys made up the best team I have ever been part of and it was great being around and playing with you guys”.

As far as what Todd’s next goals are, “To do well and get as good as I possibly can… and take my ability to an even higher level”.

On behalf of everyone here at Golden Era Baseball, we say congratulations again to you Todd and we wish you all the best at the college level!

USA BASEBALL WORLD SERIES UPDATE

The 18U Golden Era squad won it's 3rd straight Tuesday morning in the USA Baseball World Series in San Diego.

In Golden Era's 3 wins the pitching staff has combined to give up 3 runs total. The team takes the field tomorrow at 11:45 AM looking for there 4th straight win!

The 18u Golden Era squad won 7-6 this morning in the USA Baseball World Series. The win is Golden Era's 4th straight in the World Series in San Diego & 13th of 16 overall...

Golden Era 18's Advance to Championship Game in Summer National Championships 2012

The Golden Era 18's upped their winning streak to 10 straight games by winning 5 in a row in the... to advance to the Championship game of the 2012 Summer National Championships in Reno, Nevada.

Caleb Schwitter Shuts Down East Bay Baseball

Caleb Schwitters

G.E. 18's SWEEP EAST BAY BASEBALL

Caleb Schwitters, 2014 grad was dominant in his first start on the mound this summer, pitching 6 innings, striking out 5 and only allowing 1 unearned run, leading Golden Era victory.

In game 1, along with the solid pitching of Schwitters, the bats were on fire as well, totaling up 14 runs behind 2 doubles by Justin Chase, big hits from Todd Burgos & Joey Marchinni along with a home run from Ian Dawkins.

GAME 2:

Pitching was the story during Golden Era's game 2 win. Tucker Pulliam, Johnny Punla and Todd Burgos combined to allow 1 run over 9 innings as Golden Era picked up the 2-1 victory. Just as impressive was Mitchell Petures behind the plate, who called a great game.

Danny Uesugi & Alex Riviera picked up big hits at the plate that played big roles in the win...

2012 BLACK vs GOLD SERIES CHAMPS

Each year our High School Club Teams participate in numerous prestigious tournaments throughout the summer, but year in and year out 3 of the most fun days we have is our Black vs. Gold Series, where the 18U team is divided in 2 and the players battle it out to see who has to pay for dinner on the next road trip.

TEAM BLACK, manage d by 2013 Grad Ian Dawkins of Arroyo High School dominated TEAM GOLD, managed by 2013 Grad Tucker Pulliam of Dublin High School.

When it was all said and done TEAM BLACK pulled off the 3 to nothing sweep, as indicated by 2014 Grad, Danny Uesugi with the broom in the photo.

Pictured are Johnny Punla, Danny Uesugi, Ian Dawkins, Tim Curry, Todd Burgos, Mitchell Peturus, Travis Earby as well as Hunter & Ryan...

Lot of fun guys and congrats to TEAM BLACK!

Connor Cabral on fire at the plate all weekend in the 2012 Firecracker Classic...

Connor Cabral

10U Golden Era Elite (2019 Grads) all the way to the Championship of the Southern California Firecracker Classic!

The 2012 10U Golden Era Elite

The 10U Golden Era squad played awesome baseball all weekend to walk away with the trophy from the Southern California Firecracker Classic at Big League Dreams in Los Angeles.

What a way to wrap up the season!

Throughout the tournament that featured the top teams from So-Cal, Matthew Miles and Ryan Mooar smashed home-runs, while Hunter Mott, Rocky Sizemoor, Aidan Pearce, Owen Wilson and Ian Pascual all had monster tournaments at the plate.

Great season Golden Era 10's... we look forward to seeing you next year as 11's!!!

Clayton Nodal & Tucker Pulliam With Performances of a Lifetime Against the Colton Nighthawks

Clayton Nodal & Tucker Pulliam

2012 Firecracker Classic Update 
Orange County 

Over the years we have seen a lot of baseball games, and every now and then when you show up at the ballpark you see a performance you will always remember. That is what Clayton Nodal and Tucker Pulliam gave us on Monday July 1st at Concordia University while playing in the 4th of July Firecracker Classic. 

Clayton Nodal and Tucker Pulliam combined for one of the best pitching performances you will ever see against the Colton Nighthawks in the 2012 Firecracker Classic, combining for 10 innings of work, allowing NO earned runs!

Todd Burgos in dominant form in the 2012 Firecracker Classic...

2012 FIRECRACKER CLASSIC UPDATE
Orange County, CA

The great pitching in the Firecracker continued today as Todd Burgos went 6 strong innings allowing 3 hits, striking out 9 and allowing 2 runs.

Golden Era 10's put up 17 runs to win game 1 of the Southern California 4th of July Firecracker Classic! Beat LA!

10U Southern California Firecracker Classic Update
Los Angeles, CA

Wow, what a way to get the tournament going! The 10U bats came out on fire putting up 17 runs in the first game of the 2012 Firecracker Classic. 

Great job guys!!!  

Johnny Punla Dealing in 2012 Firecracker

Johnny Punla

2012 FIRECRACKER UPDATE
Orange County, CA 

Johnny Punla has been consistently pitching great all summer, and that was no different when he toed the mound against the Orange County Angels in game 1 of the Firecracker Classic. Punla went 6 strong innings, striking out 8 and allowed only 1 run.

Golden Era 18's Set for Southern California Firecracker Classic

The 18U Golden Era squad is set to travel down to Southern California to battle it out in the most competitive tournament in the country, the 4th of July Firecracker Classic in Orange County.

The 18's have got off to a hot start start this summer, playing in the championship of the Northern California Wood Bat Invitational and advancing to the semi-finals of the Best of the Best tournament in San Diego...

10U Golden Era Elite set to battle it out in Southern California in the Firecracker Classic!

The 10U Golden Era Elite are set to head down to Southern California to battle it out in the 4th of July Classic at Big League Dreams. Golden Era is the only team from Northern California that will be in attendance.

Another great weekend by the up and coming Golden Era players! Outstanding job guys!

Major League Baseball scout, James Lamb, talking to the guys!

Major League Scout James Lamb talking to the 18U Players

Thanks to Major League Scout, James Lamb, for coming by to watch the 18U guys and talking to the players about how the draft really works and what scouts really look for in a player. Great information James!

JOEY MARCHINI ACCEPTS SCHOLARSHIP

We at Golden Era Baseball would like to say congratulations to 18U player, Joey Marchini, who has accepted a scholarship to play 4 year college baseball at University of San Francisco A of A. 

Joey, a centerfielder and 2012 grad from Salesian High School in Richmond is coming off an incredible senior season where he hit close to 600, had 3 home runs, 28 runs scored and 18 RBI’s.

Marchini’s high school coach, Kenny Paysinger who spent 3 seasons coaching him on varsity says, “Joey is a coaches player, he will be the hardest worker on any team he plays on, he’s a phenomenal kid, has a  tremendous attitude, and has one of the best work ethics I have ever seen. He is a coach’s dream.” 

Golden Era Coach Derek Bell says, “Joey is one of the best pure athletes and naturally gifted players that has been part of Golden Era. The thing with Joey is as good of a player that he is right now, his best days are still in front of him. He has speed, power, plus arm strength, is a phenomenal outfielder and has true baseball instincts that we can’t teach. There is no better feeling than to watch a players dream of playing college baseball come true and I really look forward to seeing him as he continues down his baseball road”.

Joey himself say’s, “I’m very excited, I’ve had a lot of great coaches over the years and all the hard work has finally paid off”. 

Joey on behalf of all your coaches at Salesian High School and from all of us here at Golden Era Baseball, we say congratulations again and wish you all the best at the college level!

Golden Era 18U Beat Berkivich Gamers to Advance to the Championship Game of the Northern California Wood Bat Invitational

Golden Era 18U beat the Berkivich Gamers 5-2 to advance to the Championship Game of the Northern California Wood Bat Invitational. Championship game will be tomorrow (Sunday) at 1:00 at College of Marin.

Through Golden Era's 5 wins so far in the tournament, the pitching has been amazing, only allowing 5 runs over 35 innings of work...

NORTHERN CA FATHERS DAY WOOD BAT INVITATIONAL UPDATE

Johnny Punla, Connor Cabral, Clayton Nodal, Tucker Pulliam

Golden Era 18U pitchers Wes Lindstron, Johnny Punta, Clayton Nodal, Tucker Pulliam, Conner Cabral and Caleb Schwitters were dominant in pool-play of the tournament, picking up 3 wins and only allowing 3 runs (1 Earned) in 21 innings of play.

Golden Era enters the weekend playoff round as the #2 seed, set to square off again Saturday morning...

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA FATHERS DAY WOOD BAT INVITATIONAL UPDATE:

Ryan Morris, Todd Burgos, Travis Earby

Golden Era 18u’s traveled to Marin County on Wednesday for Day 1 of the Johnnie Baker Sr. Father’s Day Invitational winning their first two games that were dominated by pitching

and great baseball instincts guaranteeing them a spot in Saturday’s elimination round. Game 1 was won in dramatic fashion in the bottom of the seventh inning with runners at first and third, one out and the score tied 1-1.

Team Elite’s Travis Earby was on third base with Ryan Morris at the plate facing his high school teammate from Dublin behind the count. After a first pitch fastball called for a strike and a brief meeting on the mound between the pitcher and his coach, Morris took the 0-1 fastball to left field for a base hit driving in Earby for the game winning run.

The key play in the victory happened just before Morris’s hit when centerfielder Todd Burgos, who went 2-3 in the game, beat out a ground ball to shortstop in which the base runner, Travis Earby, went from first to third due to heads up base running when Earby noticed that there was no fielder covering third base.

On the mound for Golden Era was Johnny Punla who pitched a complete game giving up just five hits, walking only two batters, and striking out four Crawdad batters. After Punla gave up one unearned run in the first inning he threw six innings of shutout ball retiring six straight batters at one point.

Game two was dominated by the pitching performances of Clayton Nodal, Tucker Pulliam, and Conner Cabral. The trio combined for seven innings of shutout baseball giving up three hits, walking only one batter, and not allowing a runner past second base. Nodal, from Clayton Valley High School, pitched three innings and struck out 8 of the first 9 North Bay Baseball batters he faced. Nodal ended the game fanning eight batters, three of them looking at strike three, and giving up just one hit.

Golden Era Team Elite got two runs in the second inning after two outs led by Travis Earby who drew a walk after going down in the count 0-2. The following batter for GE was first basemen Tim Curry who took a ball the opposite way after a first pitch strike that moved the speedy Earby to third base.

Bases then got loaded when catcher Mitchell Petures got walked after battling a seven pitch at bat bringing up third basemen Joey Lyle who got hit by a pitch on a 1-1 count bringing in Travis Earby for the first run of the game. Later in the inning a failed pick off attempt to first base got away from North Bay’s fielder and Tim Curry scores from third making it 2-0.

Golden Era got their third and final run in the sixth inning when Ryan Morris led the inning off with a single and then went from first base to third base on a throwing error from third and was later driven in by Connor Cabral’s hit to left field.

10U Ryan Mooar Throwing Smoke!

10U Pitcher, Ryan Mooar, was dealing on the mound over the weekend, striking out 12 of the 15 batters he faced on the mound! Great work Ryan!

Jordan Remer drafted by the Cincinnatti Reds

Jordan Remer

Congratulations to former Golden Era player Jordan Remer on being selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the 2012 Major League Draft.

After completing high school Jordan moved on to play college baseball at University of San Francisco.

18U GOLDEN ERA SQUAD OPEN WITH A WIN TO START THE SUMMER of 2012 SEASON:

The 18U Golden Era team outscored a very solid Watsonville Aggies squad 8 to 3 in a 14 inning scrimmage to open the summer of 2012 season.

Golden Era's pitchers dominated the day, lead by juniors Clayton Nodal, Johnny Punla, Conner Cabral, Tucker Pulliam, Wes Lindstrom, and Ryan Morris as well as seniors Todd Burgos and Joey Marchini, who combined to allow 3 runs over 14 innings while striking out 16.

At the plate the offense was started off by Alex Riviera who dragged bunted for a single, stole second then scored on a single by Joey Lyle. Travis Earby, Clayton Nodal as well as Dylan Steen also picked up big hits throughout the day.

10U Elite Championship in Memorial Day Classic

10U Golden Era Elite have some fun after reaching the Championship of the Santa Cruz Memorial Day Classic!

The team picked up victories over the weekend against SC Sea-Hawks 28 to 3, the San Jose Pumas 9 to 2 and the Dirty Dozen 8 to 5 to advance to the championship...

Thanks to Todd!

Coach Todd Burgos with the guys on his last day before getting going for the summer with the 18U squad! Tremendous job Todd working with the players throughout the Spring.

On behalf of everyone thank you for everything you did for them! Good luck and bring it this summer!

Dominating Weekend by Youth Club Team

Josh Baker had a dominating day at the plate against the South Country Rebels over the weekend, hitting a single, double and triple, only falling a homerun away from the cycle, while leading the 11U Golden Era squad to a victory.

The game saw several Golden Era players do well, led by the solid pitching of Aidan Pearce and Owen Wilson on the mound, and along with Josh Baker's dominating day at the plate, Jack McCullar tripled, Hunter Mott added a single and double, Carson Stack, Bryan Bruno, Thomas Major, Ryan Mooar and Jacob Berger all singled in runs as well.

Great team win and tremendous job playing the game the right way!

April Fool's Bash 10u Mather (Photos)

SEE ALL PHOTOS

Congrats to the 10U Golden Era Elite for their 2nd straight Championship game!

Woodland Tourney (Photos)

SEE ALL PHOTOS

Jonathan Sa at University of Texas Pan American

Jonathon Sa, former Golden Era pitcher is off to a great start on the mound for University of Texas Pan American.

Great job 10U Golden Era Elite for moving on to the Championship game!

10U Golden Era begin the season strong going 3 & 1 over the weekend. The weekend was highlighted with big hits from Rocky Sizemore, Ian Pascual and Hunter Mott, while Aidan Pearce, Nehemiah House, Ryan Mooar and Owen Wilson were awesome on the mound.

Great start!

10U St. Patricks Tournament (Photos)

SEE ALL PHOTOS...

A GREAT READ FOR ALL PARENTS...

What Makes A Nightmare Sports Parent -- And What Makes A Great One

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Written by: Steve Henson

From: Yahoo Sports

Hundreds of college athletes were asked to think back: "What is your worst memory from playing youth and high school sports?"

Their overwhelming response: "The ride home from games with my parents."

The informal survey lasted three decades, initiated by two former longtime coaches who over time became staunch advocates for the player, for the adolescent, for the child. Bruce E. Brown and Rob Miller of Proactive Coaching LLC are devoted to helping adults avoid becoming a nightmare sports parent, speaking at colleges, high schools and youth leagues to more than a million athletes, coaches and parents in the last 12 years.

Those same college athletes were asked what their parents said that made them feel great, that amplified their joy during and after a ballgame.

Their overwhelming response: "I love to watch you play."

There it is, from the mouths of babes who grew up to become college and professional athletes. Whether your child is just beginning T-ball or is a travel-team soccer all-star or survived the cuts for the high school varsity, parents take heed.


The vast majority of dads and moms that make rides home from games miserable for their children do so inadvertently. They aren't stereotypical horrendous sports parents, the ones who scream at referees, loudly second-guess coaches or berate their children. They are well-intentioned folks who can't help but initiate conversation about the contest before the sweat has dried on their child's uniform.

In the moments after a game, win or lose, kids desire distance. They make a rapid transition from athlete back to child. And they’d prefer if parents transitioned from spectator – or in many instances from coach – back to mom and dad. ASAP.

Brown (pictured at podium), a high school and youth coach near Seattle for more than 30 years, says his research shows young athletes especially enjoy having their grandparents watch them perform. 


"Overall, grandparents are more content than parents to simply enjoy watching the child participate," he says. "Kids recognize that."

A grandparent is more likely to offer a smile and a hug, say "I love watching you play," and leave it at that.

Meanwhile a parent might blurt out …
“Why did you swing at that high pitch when we talked about laying off it?"
"Stay focused even when you are on the bench.”
"You didn’t hustle back to your position on defense.”
"You would have won if the ref would have called that obvious foul.”
"Your coach didn't have the best team on the field when it mattered most.”
And on and on.

Sure, an element of truth might be evident in the remarks. But the young athlete doesn’t want to hear it immediately after the game. Not from a parent. Comments that undermine teammates, the coach or even officials run counter to everything the young player is taught. And instructional feedback was likely already mentioned by the coach.

"Let your child bring the game to you if they want to,” Brown says.

Brown and Miller, a longtime coach and college administrator, don't consider themselves experts, but instead use their platform to convey to parents what three generations of young athletes have told them.

"Everything we teach came from me asking players questions," Brown says. "When you have a trusting relationship with kids, you get honest answers. When you listen to young people speak from their heart, they offer a perspective that really resonates.”

So what’s the takeaway for parents?

"Sports is one of few places in a child's life where a parent can say, 'This is your thing,’ ” Miller says. "Athletics is one of the best ways for young people to take risks and deal with failure because the consequences aren’t fatal, they aren’t permanent. We’re talking about a game. So they usually don’t want or need a parent to rescue them when something goes wrong.

"Once you as a parent are assured the team is a safe environment, release your child to the coach and to the game. That way all successes are theirs, all failures are theirs."
And discussion on the ride home can be about a song on the radio or where to stop for a bite to eat. By the time you pull into the driveway, the relationship ought to have transformed from keenly interested spectator and athlete back to parent and child:

"We loved watching you play. … Now, how about that homework?"

FIVE SIGNS OF A NIGHTMARE SPORTS PARENT
Nearly 75 percent of kids who play organized sports quit by age 13. Some find that their skill level hits a plateau and the game is no longer fun. Others simply discover other interests. But too many promising young athletes turn away from sports because their parents become insufferable.

Even professional athletes can behave inappropriately when it comes to their children. David Beckham was recently ejected from a youth soccer field for questioning an official. New Orleans radio host Bobby Hebert, a former NFL quarterback, publicly dressed down LSU football coach Les Miles after Alabama defeated LSU in the BCS title game last month. Hebert was hardly unbiased: His son had recently lost his starting position at LSU.
Mom or dad, so loving and rational at home, can transform into an ogre at a game. A lot of kids internally reach the conclusion that if they quit the sport, maybe they'll get their dad or mom back.

As a sports parent, this is what you don't want to become. This is what you want to avoid:

• Overemphasizing sports at the expense of sportsmanship: The best athletes keep their emotions in check and perform at an even keel, win or lose. Parents demonstrative in showing displeasure during a contest are sending the wrong message. Encouragement is crucial -- especially when things aren’t going well on the field.


• Having different goals than your child: Brown and Miller suggest jotting down a list of what you want for your child during their sport season. Your son or daughter can do the same. Vastly different lists are a red flag. Kids generally want to have fun, enjoy time with their friends, improve their skills and win. Parents who write down “getting a scholarship” or “making the All-Star team” probably need to adjust their goals. “Athletes say their parents believe their role on the team is larger than what the athlete knows it to be,” Miller says.

• Treating your child differently after a loss than a win: Almost all parents love their children the same regardless of the outcome of a game. Yet often their behavior conveys something else. "Many young athletes indicate that conversations with their parents after a game somehow make them feel as if their value as a person was tied to playing time or winning,” Brown says.

• Undermining the coach: Young athletes need a single instructional voice during games. That voice has to be the coach. Kids who listen to their parents yelling instruction from the stands or even glancing at their parents for approval from the field are distracted and can't perform at a peak level. Second-guessing the coach on the ride home is just as insidious.

• Living your own athletic dream through your child: A sure sign is the parent taking credit when the child has done well. “We worked on that shot for weeks in the driveway,” or “You did it just like I showed you” Another symptom is when the outcome of a game means more to a parent than to the child. If you as a parent are still depressed by a loss when the child is already off playing with friends, remind yourself that it’s not your career and you have zero control over the outcome.

FIVE SIGNS OF AN IDEAL SPORTS PARENT
Let’s hear it for the parents who do it right. In many respects, Brown and Miller say, it’s easier to be an ideal sports parent than a nightmare. “It takes less effort,” Miller says. “Sit back and enjoy.” Here’s what to do:

• Cheer everybody on the team, not just your child: Parents should attend as many games as possible and be supportive, yet allow young athletes to find their own solutions. Don’t feel the need to come to their rescue at every crisis. Continue to make positive comments even when the team is struggling.


• Model appropriate behavior: Contrary to the old saying, children do as you do, not as you say. When a parent projects poise, control and confidence, the young athlete is likely to do the same. And when a parent doesn’t dwell on a tough loss, the young athlete will be enormously appreciative.

• Know what is suitable to discuss with the coach: The mental and physical treatment of your child is absolutely appropriate. So is seeking advice on ways to help your child improve. And if you are concerned about your child’s behavior in the team setting, bring that up with the coach. Taboo topics: Playing time, team strategy, and discussing team members other than your child.

• Know your role: Everyone at a game is either a player, a coach, an official or a spectator. “It’s wise to choose only one of those roles at a time,” Brown says. “Some adults have the false impression that by being in a crowd, they become anonymous. People behaving poorly cannot hide.” Here’s a clue: If your child seems embarrassed by you, clean up your act.

• Be a good listener and a great encourager: When your child is ready to talk about a game or has a question about the sport, be all ears. Then provide answers while being mindful of avoiding becoming a nightmare sports parent. Above all, be positive. Be your child's biggest fan. "Good athletes learn better when they seek their own answers," Brown says.
And, of course, don’t be sparing with those magic words: "I love watching you play."