1. Make sure your children know that--win or lose--you love them and are not disappointed with their performance.

2. Be realistic about your child's physical ability.

3. Help your child set realistic goals.

4. Emphasize improved performance, not winning. Positively reinforce improved skills.

5. Don't relive your own athletic past through your child.

6. Provide a safe environment for training and competition.

7. Control your own emotions at games and events. Don't yell at other players, coaches, or officials.

8. Be a cheerleader for your child and the other children on the team.

9. Respect your child's coaches. Communicate openly with them. If you disagree with their approach, discuss it with them.

10. Be a positive role model. Enjoy sports yourself. Set your own goals. Live a healthy life style.

Note from the kid's editor:

I've seen these guidelines published before and hope to see them published again. I'm going to print them and save them. I need to remind myself about what is really of importance when working with kids or when encouraging my own children.

Amby Burfoot, RW and Carol Goodrow, KR at the Manchester Road Race, November, 2000.

Thank you to Amby for pointing me to this site and helping me find these guidelines that show the right way to encourage and nurture children in sports.

As a teacher, I think that it would be a great idea to translate these sport guidelines to academic guidelines, for they could help parents and teachers guide their kids to set and reach reasonable academic goals. They could also serve as a reminder to teachers and parents to show respect when communicating with each other.

Please visit THE PHYSICIAN AND SPORTSMEDICINE Web site for more information.

Do you have any questions about a child's running program? Please email the kid's editor at carol.kids@rodale.com.