By Alex Perdikis

You already know the advantages of youth sports. Physical activity and health, leadership skills, and bouncing back after a loss are just a few of the lessons children learn playing sports that serve them well into adulthood.

Becoming a great teammate is one of the most important lessons children learn. Helping others who may not have their advantages, lifting teammates up when they need it and supporting the efforts of others in some capacity turn athletes into people who care about the world around them.

Children are born self-centered. It’s a survival mechanism. To become a productive adult, however, children have to learn empathy. Team sports is the perfect place to learn about helping others.

How can you encourage your child to become a great teammate? Follow these three tips.

From the Bench or on the Field: Everyone Contributes

Perhaps your child is one of those less-skilled players who sit out a lot. It’s important for your child to realize that everyone contributes to the team whether they play or not.

“Playing hard during practice not only gives nonstarters a chance to better their own skills, but it helps starters become better players as well. Practice is where skills improve and grow.” — Alex Perdikis

Cheerleading from the sidelines and positive shouts of encouragement to those on the field builds a sense of family.   

Is your child a starter or a player who gets a lot of playing time? Discuss with your child the importance of including nonstarters in team activities. Talk about ways nonstarters contribute to the team as a whole. Encourage your child to support those team members when they do play and during practice.

Point out that gratitude toward every other team member, whether they play a lot or a little, is what turns a good team into a great one.

It’s More Than Winning

Great teams aren’t necessarily winning teams. Of course, every team member, coach and parent loves to win. But, youth sports speaks to a higher purpose where winning is more about winning at life than winning a game.

Create an atmosphere for your child where looking out for others, helping each other be the best they can be, and fulfilling their own potential is the goal — not a winning score at the end of a game.

Encourage your child to be a gracious loser and to congratulate members of the other team after a loss. Discourage the blame game both in your child’s speech and your own.

Choose the Right Program

Nothing you do at home will have an impact if your child is in a program that goes against your ideals. Find a youth sports program that not only fits your child’s capabilities and interests but also shares your philosophy.

Choose a coach who interacts positively, encourages teamwork, values each team member, and doesn’t punish players for mistakes. Observe how the coach and staff interact with players. Watch the spoken and unspoken messages they send to young athletes.

Youth sports can be both fun and a powerful life skills teacher when parents and coaches work together.

Alex Perdikis, Koons of Silver Spring general manager and owner, lives in Chevy Chase with his wife and daughters.