October is National Bullying Prevention Month. While it’s important to have conversations about bullying, many parents turn to extracurriculars to help reinforce values like respect, honesty and collaboration.
According to research from First Tee and The Harris Poll, parents agree youth sports can impact their child’s ability to work well with others (89%) and to be resilient in the face of challenges (84%). Eighty-eight percent of parents with coached children say their child has become more likely to speak up for themselves in other areas of life since participating in coached sports.
Golf offers an unusual advantage here. It’s one of the only youth sports where players are expected to call their own penalties, tend to their opponents’ etiquette and shake hands after every round regardless of the score. Respect and integrity are built into the structure of the game itself. That makes them easier to teach and to practice.
At First Tee, we encourage participants to embrace the five key commitments, which include collaborating with others, using good judgement and building positive self-identity.
Encourage courtesy to become second nature. One of the great things about golf is that players learn to fix their divots, quiet down when others are teeing off and shake hands after every round. Thinking of others and how your behavior impacts them starts to become natural.
These habits don’t have to stay on the course. The same instinct that tells a young golfer to rake a bunker can show up at school when they show respect to teachers and classmates.
At First Tee, coaches teach meeting and greeting skills, helping participants get off on the right foot and build friendships from the start. The curriculum also covers CARE to help resolve conflicts: Communicate, Actively listen, Review options and End with a win-win solution.
Fair play starts with speaking up. Junior golfers are taught that everyone contributes to a fun and fair round. It can be difficult to challenge an opponent on score or ruling, but young golfers learn that it’s the right thing to do. Praise your child’s character when they speak up on the course and encourage them to carry the same principles into the classroom.
Model it visibly. Kids absorb how adults treat officials, other parents and coaches far more than they absorb what adults say about kindness. Keep this in mind next time a ruling goes against your child.
Respect and courtesy need repetition until they become instinct. Learn more about National Bullying Prevention Month.
