Divorce & Sports Parenting
One
anecdote I share with parents every season is Alec Baldwin vs. Kim
Basinger. After a nine year marriage,
Baldwin and Basinger waged war with an eight year custody battle, involving $3M
in court costs and legal fees, and 90 + court proceedings. Who benefits from
that?
First
Things First: Parents should have a parenting plan that
supports the yearly sports schedule, including practices, games, and summer
camps. It’s tough love but it is toxic
and unfair to the team and other sports parents to allow one set of parents to create
a disruptive, negative environment.
Address this issue early with the parents.
Child
Support: Youth sports
is considered an “extracurricular” activity by most state courts (check with
your jurisdiction). What this means is that in many states you cannot force the ex to pay for certain sports
activities in a child support plan. Sports
parents need a game plan for approaching an uncooperative ex about sharing
youth sports expenses.
Explain the life skills that
youth sports provide for childhood development.
Studies show that high school athletes have higher grades and graduation
rates compared to non-athletes. And this
is especially important for the guys: male non-athletes are 10 times more
likely to quit school compared to those playing sports.
Best Interests Standard: Some ex-spouses will act like a jerk
regardless – routinely dropping their child off late to practice, etc. When this happens, show some flexibility to
keep the athlete on the team in a structured, positive environment.
