How not to be one of THOSE basketball parents

• Poor sideline behaviour has short-term and long-term effects on junior players
• Parents matter enormously to development, which cuts both ways
• A practical guide to being the parent your child needs courtside

Every junior club has them, and none of them think it is them. The parent whose frustration arrives at the court before their child does, and whose child now plays with one eye on the sideline.

This is about what that actually does. Visual validation is the habit at the centre of it: a young player making a mistake, then immediately searching the crowd for a parent's reaction, and almost always finding a negative one. The play is over, the next one has started, and they are still looking up. No junior player should be doing that, and if you recognise it, it stops with you.

What follows is practical rather than preachy. What to do courtside, what to say in the car afterwards, and why the drive home does more damage or more good than anything that happened in the game.

There is nothing worse than witnessing an irrational over-invested parent project their frustrations – or expectations – on young, junior basketball players.

Parents give little thought to both the short-term and long-term impacts of their own poor behaviour on the development of kids they think they have the best interests of.

Poor behaviour from sporting parents – across any code, not just basketball – has a significant impact on kids, coaches, referees, and even the broader club communities.

Let the coach, coach. They volunteer their time. Telling a coach what to do, or challenging their decisions means one thing: You do it, then. It's easy to be an armchair critic, put your money where your mouth is and get involved. If you can't or won't you lose the right to have an opinion.

Here's a rundown of what not to do and what to do:

🚫 Poor Behaviour of Sporting Parents – What Not to Do

🔊 Sideline Coaching

What Not to Do: Yelling instructions such as “Run faster!”, “pass it!”, or “Shoot!” during the game.
Why It’s a Problem: Confuses the child (especially if it contradicts the coach). Adds pressure and stress and undermines the coach’s role.

😡 Arguing With Officials

What Not to Do: Confronting referees, umpires, or officials — yelling, challenging calls, or approaching them during or after the game.
Why It’s a Problem: Disrupts the game. Sets a poor example and can (should) result in penalties or bans.

🤬 Abuse (Verbal or Physical)

What Not to Do: Using foul language, threatening others, intimidating players, coaches, referees or other parents.
Why It’s a Problem: Creates a hostile environment. Can traumatise young players and may result in police involvement or being banned from venues.

👎 Criticising Children — Yours or Others’

What Not to Do: Calling out mistakes, mocking effort, or comparing kids (especially in public).
Why It’s a Problem: Shatters confidence. Embarrasses children and can lead kids to quit sport altogether.

🧢 Second-Guessing the Coach

What Not to Do: Publicly questioning coaching decisions, team selections, or tactics.
Why It’s a Problem: Undermines the coach’s authority. Erodes team trust and sends the wrong message to your child.

📊 Focusing on Outcomes Over Effort

What Not to Do: Only praising wins, goals, or top performances.
Why It’s a Problem: Teaches kids to fear failure. Shifts focus away from fun, learning, and development.

🗣️ Gossip and Sideline Politics

What Not to Do: Talking negatively about other parents, players, or the coach in the stands or group chats.
Why It’s a Problem: Divides teams. Creates unnecessary drama. Always gets back to the kids.

🧍 Living Through the Child

What Not to Do: Treating your child’s sport as your own, or pressuring them to reach goals that serve your ego.
Why It’s a Problem: Damages the parent-child relationship and robs kids of enjoyment and ownership.

✅ How to Be a Good Basketball Parent — What to Do

🧡 1. Prioritise Fun and Growth

• Ask your child: “Did you have fun?” not “Did you win?”
• Celebrate effort, improvement, teamwork, and resilience.
• Help them love the game — that’s what keeps them playing long-term.

🙌 2. Be Their Biggest Supporter — Not Their Coach

• Let the coach do the coaching.
• Your job is to provide emotional support and encouragement, win or lose.
• Post-game, keep it simple: “I loved watching you play.”

👂 3. Listen More Than You Talk

• If your child wants to talk about the game, let them lead the conversation.
• Don’t launch into critiques, analysis, or advice unless they ask for it.
• Sometimes they just need a milkshake and a hug.

🤝 4. Respect the Coach and Referees

• Trust the process, even if you don’t agree with every decision.
• Avoid side-comments, outbursts, or backseat coaching from the stands.
• Referees are human. Mistakes happen. Keep perspective.

👏 5. Cheer for the Whole Team

• Applaud good plays from anyone on the court.
• Promote a positive team culture — kids notice which parents are kind, loud, or toxic.
• Be the parent other kids feel safe around.

🕊️ 6. Model Composure and Class

• Show respect to opponents, coaches, refs, and other parents.
• Don’t gossip or complain in front of your child — they absorb everything.
• Lead by example — how you behave in the stands teaches more than what you say.

🛑 7. Keep Perspective

• Not every kid will be a star or get equal minutes.
• Not every game is about winning — it’s about learning.
• If they’ve developed character, friendships, and a love for sport, that’s a win.

💬 Bonus Tip: Use the 24-Hour Rule

If you have a concern about playing time, coaching decisions, or a tough game — wait 24 hours before reaching out. Emotions cool, clarity improves, and conversations are far more constructive.

About the Author

Peter Brown is the head coach of the Sydney Comets Women’s Youth League team in the Waratah Basketball League in NSW. He is also the assistant coach for the Comets NBL1 women’s team in the NBL1 East Conference. Peter is a 30-year journalist, starting as a sports reporter at the NT News in the early 1990s. He played junior basketball for the Northern Territory at national championships from U16 to U20 and for the Territory’s senior men’s team at numerous international tournaments. Peter has been a basketball fan since the early 80s, especially the NBA. Basketball is his passion – and his opinions his own. Email peter.brown@basketball.com.au with feedback. Any email feedback on articles sent to Peter can be published on basketball.com.au for others to read.