Parents of young athletes sometimes find it hard to resist the urge to push their child to perform at the highest possible level--sometimes well above the child's actual experience and ability. Many a young baseball player has given up the sport because intense pressure to perform from parents took the fun out of the game. Motocross parents can sometimes have the same effect on young riders. If too much emphasis is placed on “beating the other kid” and “winning” young riders often lose the joy of motocross. The old “Second place is just the first loser” adage can have devastating effects on a child’s ability to learn, enjoy and grow in the sport as well as diminishing the parent-child relationship that is one of the most attractive aspects of our sport. Placing too much emphasis on the performance of young motocrossers carries unique risks not present in most team sports. Pushing a young rider to “go jump that double!” can have disastrous results. The Motocross Safety Council seeks to reduce the potential for and seriousness of motocross injuries. No where is that mission more important than with young riders. We don’t seek to tell parents what to do—just to suggest that having your child go home in the vehicle they came in (rather than an ambulance or helicopter) far outweighs the value of a $5 trophy. The consequences of a child not hitting the triple Mom or Dad wanted on the Little League field are radically different than those associated with missing a 70' triple on a motocross track. Please remember, it's the child who will suffer the consequences. |
:: Parent's Code of Conduct::
:: The Motocross Safety Council::
As a racer’s parent I pledge that I will make every effort when my child is racing/practicing at a motocross facility to: 1. not force unreasonable expectations on my child by demanding that he or she attempt certain obstacles that the child is obviously not comfortable with. 2. not put unreasonable pressure on my child due to his/her failure to produce the results I feel are acceptable. 3. follow all track rules while participating at motocross events such as practice or racing. (Rules pertaining to alcohol, language, fighting, etc.) 4. maintain a positive attitude towards my child’s racing experience. 5. respect the judgments made by track officials. 6. comply with the suggestions in the section “Rider Safety Equipment.” 7. insure that all members of my family follow pit safety rules, including wearing a helmet at all times while on pit bikes and maintaining slow safe speeds in congested pit areas. 8. not run carelessly out on the track and endanger myself and others when by child is in involved in a crash. 9. leave the medical treatment of my child to the emergency medical professionals on the scene and will follow their directions. 10. refrain from removing my child’s helmet or moving my child when the possibility of a head or neck injury exists. |
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