Building a Culture of Respect: How Parents and Coaches Can Shape the Next Generation
By: Aaron Locks, NAofA Founder and CEO
Not too long ago, respect for police officers, teachers, firefighters, military personnel, & even neighbors like Mr. Johnson down the street was automatic & deeply ingrained in our culture. These individuals were universally regarded as role models & community pillars without question. Today, however, respect no longer seems to be a given. Many kids feel that respect must first be earned before it is extended. This shift in mindset is concerning to me & underscores the need for intentional action from the adults who influence young people the most—parents and coaches—toward building a culture of respect.
When my kids were young, we made it a priority to teach them the importance of saying “thank you” to their coaches & teachers. We believed that showing gratitude wasn’t just about good manners—it was a way to instill respect & appreciation for the people who played a significant role in their growth & learning. We also made it a point to model respect & gratitude ourselves, demonstrating how much we valued these individuals. Our goal was to help our children see these positive behaviors as a natural & meaningful part of life.
As someone who has coached many youth teams, I can confidently say that most coaches would much rather receive heartfelt “thank you’s,” respect, & gratitude from parents & players than a gift card at the end-of-season party. These simple acts of appreciation mean more than any material gift & show that their time & effort truly made a difference.
As parents & coaches, we have a unique & powerful opportunity to shape the values & behaviors of the next generation. Encouraging kids to participate in team sports is one of the most effective ways to teach respect & gratitude. Sports provide a natural setting where children can learn vital life lessons, such as discipline, teamwork, & sportsmanship. Beyond the games themselves, team sports allow kids to experience & practice respect firsthand—whether it’s for their teammates, coaches, referees, & their opponents. They also learn to respect the process of improvement, finding joy in the effort it takes to grow & develop. When we teach kids to focus on their effort instead of just the result, they begin to value the journey, learn to love competing, & embrace challenges with a positive mindset.
However, I strongly believe that participation alone isn’t enough. Children need to see respect & gratitude consistently modeled by the adults they look up to. When we, as parents & coaches, show respect for referees, opposing teams, and each other, we send a clear message: respect is not conditional—it’s a core value. When we openly express gratitude to those who serve our communities, like first responders or educators, we demonstrate the importance of acknowledging the contributions of others. Over time, these repeated lessons help children internalize respect & gratitude as fundamental aspects of their character, shaping them into individuals who value & uplift those around them.
By combining the lessons learned through team sports with the examples we set, we can help children rediscover the value of respect & appreciation. These values will not only make them better athletes but also better people. When kids internalize the importance of respect for others, for the process, & for themselves, they carry these principles into their schools, neighborhoods, & communities. Together, we can shape a generation of kind, respectful, & community-minded individuals who are equipped to make a positive difference in the world.
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Related reading: Building Confidence, Not Just Athletes, Through Sports · 10 Ways to Build Confidence in Youth Athletes
