TAKE 5 with University of Illinois' Wynn Michalak

When watching your child play sports, it’s natural to get excited. But it’s also important to make sure you always act as a Positive Sport Parent – on game day and beyond.

Being a Positive Sport Parent means not only keeping your emotions in check on game day, but also always remaining supportive and respectful of your youth athlete – as well as all the other kids and coaches involved in the competition. It’s also vital to remember that as a parent, you have the power to help shape your youth athlete’s attitude about sports.

Liberty Mutual Insurance Play Positive sat down with USA Wrestling standout Wynn Michalak to get his thoughts on what it means to be a Positive Sport Parent.

In our exclusive TAKE 5 interview, Wynn told us that growing up, his parents were “very involved” in his youth wrestling experience.

“My dad was president of our youth program for many years, and my mom was my practice partner when I was young,” remembered Wynn. “They travelled with me everywhere, every weekend. I could not have done it without their support and involvement.”

Wynn stressed that as important as their overall involvement and investment were to his wrestling success, their behavior as Positive Sport Parents was even bigger.

“I think it was the perfect mix of involvement and freedom,” said Wynn. “They let me be a wrestler, but gave me a lot of support. They get intense and cheer, but they cheer for me and never jeer or disrespect anyone else. The believe that support is the best way to keep me and my brother enthusiastic about our sports.”

Wynn, who also serves as an assistant wrestling coach at the University of Illinois, added that it is very important for parents of current youth wrestlers to serve as strong, supportive role models – and Positive Sport Parents.

“Parents are everything in youth wrestling,” said Wynn. “Their presence alone is very important, but involvement with helping and encouragement will keep their kids happy and motivated in wrestling. They have to find that positive balance of encouragement and teaching that keeps kids poised for more.”

Wynn added that there are also certain ways of thinking and behaving that Positive Sport Parents must do their best not to engage in or pass on to their youth athletes.

“Wrestling is difficult enough without getting negative pressure from the parents,” said Wynn. “They can’t talk about the other wrestlers, or find complete fault in their child’s match. Parents much stop expecting perfection every time, but rather know there will always be teaching moments to use, and use them the right way.”

To read the full TAKE 5 interview with Wynn, visit PlayPositive.com. And come back next month for another exclusive TAKE 5 interview!

At Liberty Mutual Insurance, we constantly look for ways to celebrate the countless acts of positivity shown by people every day. We created Play Positive, powered by Positive Coaching Alliance, as part of this belief to help ensure that our kids experience the best that sports have to offer in environments that promote and display positivity. We believe kids can learn valuable life lessons when coaches and parents come together to support winning on and off the mat.

©2014 Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and Positive Coaching Alliance. All rights reserved. This material may not be distributed without express written permission. Any reproduction in whole or part by and individuals or organizations will be held liable for copyright infringement to the full extent of the law.