Does your son or daughter want to kick like Mia, throw like
Peyton or dunk like
Shaq? Or do they simply want to play?

Sports can be an enriching experience for children, but according to author
Mike
Easterling of Columbia, parents should be well-informed about what their children

want out of playing sports before getting them involved.

“Most parents don’t know why their kid is playing; they just drop
the kid off,”
Easterling says. “Know why your kid wants to play, and then get involved.”
Easterling’s new book, “Hey Coach! … Let My Kid Play!”
(AuthorHouse, $9.50)
explores the trial and tribulations of the sports parent through a series of
essays
that combines humorous experiences from his own life with useful information
that
will benefit parents, players and coaches.

“A child can be damaged or enhanced by the sports experience,” Easterling
says.
“The goal of the book is to teach grownups to make it a positive experience
for
kids.”

The motivation for the book, Easterling says, came from observing his son Geoff’s

negative experience with youth football. Once Easterling understood Geoff’s

conflict with his coach’s teaching methods, he was able to find a coach who
was
more in tune with his son. Geoff decided to stick with the sport and now, as
a
freshman at Atholton High School, is a member of the the football and track
and
field teams.

Along with helping parents become more involved in their child’s sports

experience, Easterling says that the book is also useful for coaches because,
“It
lets them in on what parents are really thinking.”
The 40-page handbook also offers advice on how to monitor a child’s progress

and offer positive encouragement.
“Kids do by example. It all starts with the parents,” he says, explaining
that what a
parent does and says often rubs off on the child and can play a big role in
the
child’s attitude on the playing field. For example, Easterling insists
parents should
“Cheer for your team and not against the other. An adult should never
‘boo’ a
child.”

Easterling says parents should listen carefully to their children when they
talk about
sports. A lot can be derived from what they have to say, he explains, adding
“The
first person to know if they are being treated fairly or not, is the kid.”
Easterling also believes that it is good to encourage a child’s involvement
in
sports, but to never push too hard. In the book he suggests enrolling the child
in
clinics and summer camps only upon his or her request.
“Hey Coach!…Let My Kid Play!” can be purchased from AuthorHouse
($3.95
electronic; $9.50 paperback) at www.letmykidplay.com.
Paul Peluso Jr.