Having a child compete in motocross is a rewarding experience because it gives you and your child an opportunity to forge lifelong bonds. It can be a struggle, however, since the roles of sponsor, coach, mechanic and driver may also fall upon your heavy parenting shoulders.
With so much invested in your child, it is only natural to want him or her to do well, but when does encouragement turn into pushiness and secret glory seeking? And what if your child has a bad day on the track? Will you be able to put your expectations and ego aside to help your child see that having fun is worth more than a trophy?
With those questions in mind, here are some tips on this topic that were adapted from Jim Muir’s popular article, Motocross Parents: Don’t Get Confused.
- Always show the same reaction after the race, no matter how well or poorly he or she performed. As a parent, it is your job to encourage and support, not disparage.
- Highlight the positives. Pick out one or two things your child did particularly well during the race and commend the child for it.
- Remember, winning isn’t everything. We race for the experience of spending time with our children and the opportunity to teach them invaluable lessons of humility, sportsmanship and overcoming challenges.