In a lot of cases, perhaps, the better question is, when is the parent ready to face the politics, pitfalls and frustrations their young athlete may endure? Because of a lack of knowledge or first hand experience, a lot of parents don't readily understand what they're getting their child, or themselves into.

Are you ready for some overzealous parent to yell at your child or make a derogatory remark about his or her playing ability? How will you react to that and what steps will you take to keep your temperament under control?

How will you explain to your budding superstar why he or she didn't play all the time, why they didn't make the All-Star team and why they weren't chosen for a higher level team? Kids don't need a pointless answer. They want to know why.

Maybe you think your son or daughter was pushed too hard in a soccer game or fouled maliciously in a basketball contest. What will your demeanor be if this occurs and will it be any different if your child is five or 15? In any species, parents tend to protect their young and let the older ones fend for themselves. What will be your reaction be if he or she is five years old?

I think it's fairly simple to say that when you, as a parent, are ready to handle the stress of competition, you're probably ready to put your child in youth sports. However, remember, this is not school. Very few coaches are going to nurture and care for your child on a daily basis like teachers do.

You'll have to be prepared to offer encouragement, know when to give constructive criticism and be a role model for your youngster. If you've never engaged in sports yourself at a younger age, this will be a challenge.

Giving encouragement and knowing the correct time to give constructive criticism is an art all by itself. No matter what age they are, kids are not stupid. They recognize false praise. If you're going to say something encouraging, then mean it, and don't offer some often used cliche.

And in the case of constructive criticism, timing and tactfulness is important. Your explanation should unfold calmly and should be direct and in good taste. Going off in a tirade with foul language only turns kids off and they won't listen or learn a thing from you.

No matter what your upbringing was or how you were treated, you can‚t become an overly involved, pushy or abusive parent. That means don't yell instructions to your child during a game (let the coaches do that), don't force your child to do something in a game they can't or don't want to do and don't yell at them if they do something wrong, especially in front of their peers.

This brings to mind another point about youth sports and your readiness for it. Just because football, baseball, soccer and basketball are the limelight sports, doesn't mean your child is cut out for any of them.

They might want to be a swimmer, a gymnast or want to attain a black belt in the martial arts. Let them go after a sport they have a desire to do. Don't forget, though, are you ready for the rigors of that sport as opposed to the big four?

So take a good look at yourself in the mirror and take into consideration all the intangibles and variables that fit into the equation of youth sports. Examine the drawbacks our society has thrown over them and either declare yourself ready or a project in the making.

Whatever your decision is, keep in mind you're on a journey for a decade or so and if you prepare yourself appropriately for the ride, your children will be the ones that benefit the most.

Rich Taylor is the CEO and head instructor of California Pitching Academy and a scout for the New York Mets. Reach him at rjtaylor23@yahoo.com.

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