101 Ways To Be a Terrific Sports Parent.

• Author: Hyatt, Ralph
• Position: Book Review

BY JOEL FISH (WITH SUSAN MAGEE) SIMON AND SHUSTER 2003, 302 PAGES, $14.00

It probably is safe to say that behind every young athlete there typically exists an excited, exuberant, and exhausted set of parents. However, irritability and ill will too often are part of this emotional mix. Parental behavior even can become violent. A few years back, during a youth hockey game, a father was beaten to death by an out-of-control, cursing parent over some benign disagreement. There have been other such incidents as well, sad to say. Indeed, loss of emotional control by spectators at sporting events has become a social issue of some concern.

Enter Joel Fish, a psychologist specializing in sports psychology. He sensitively applies the principles gleaned from human research and clinical practice to the relationship between a child involved with sports activities and his or her parent(s). Fish ultimately reveals 101 ways (dynamic points to consider) to be a "terrific" sports parent. The format is quite appealing. Following a brief introduction, there are 10 chapters concerning such topics as "Awareness" (why a parent is the most important influence in a child's athletic undertaking), "Self-Esteem" (the sense of empowerment conveyed through sports), "Sibling Rivalry" and "Family Issues:

Readers will feel respected and involved as...