RULE #2: TEACH HUMILITY

On the flip side, young athletes - especially those who are talented - can receive too much support, develop attitude problems, and become less motivated in important activities outside of their sport.

"Quality parenting can make the difference between a child who thinks he is king of the world and a humble, gracious child who works hard and excels as an athlete and a student," said Michel Balasis, the former kicker for Michigan State University and head of Loyola University's department of visual communications.

"Student-athletes are a mixed bag. Because they are great athletes, the pampered ones think they can skate by," said Balasis, noting they are easy to spot for their lack of work ethic.

But Balasis takes notice of the students whose parents expect more of them. These students are also easy to spot because of their rigorous work ethic and ability to go the extra mile.

Parents are primarily responsible for their children's attitude. Children who strut into class thinking they will sail by because they are student-athletes will learn a lesson later in life. Parents who teach their children early to work hard will save their children from years of suffering while in college and later during their careers.

"Teach your kids that they need to earn what they have," agreed Beebe, who knows a thing or two about hard work. "When they cross the line in sports or academia, step in and tell them they have to change."

To compete successfully in sports, a student must maintain an academic standard. Parents should insist on it now, so their child will be better prepared for the demands of college. If parents overlook it now, their student-athlete might not make it past freshman year in college. Like a good coach, a good parent will discipline their children who have stepped over the line.

What the student does off the field is just as important as what takes place on the field. As the recruiting process begins, maintaining good grades becomes more and more important. Performance in the classroom tells a coach plenty about an athlete's likelihood of reaching their potential on the playing field. Coaches know that good students tend to make the most of their abilities and stay out of trouble.

Michael Stonebreaker, two-time All American from Notre Dame, reports that his father made him go to summer school because he received a C on his report card. Stonebreaker was not happy with the requirement, but it was the only C he would ever receive. Later, his high GPA helped him earn a full scholarship to Notre Dame, so while he had to devote his summer to academics, he learned a valuable lesson.

We suggest the three-part ACE formula for teaching students to be accountable.

Academics: Remember that a college coach will not recruit a student-athlete who cannot compete in the classroom. Academic performance tells a coach a lot about a child's ability to manage time, set goals, and prioritize.

Character: Character is a big part of a sport. No coach wants to work with a sore loser or an ungracious winner. Remember that you can tell a lot about a child's character by the company he keeps. Parents need to make sure that their children know how to make good decisions and are accountable for the actions they take.

Effort: Effort and work ethic are a big part of children's ability to be successful student-athletes. During summers and weekends, my parents had a rule: I either worked or I did housework. If I worked, I made money, so I chose the former. Having a paper route and working as a caddy at the local golf course taught me the value of hard work early, and when I left for college, I stood out from the crowd because I was accustomed to working hard to achieve my goals.

Win or lose, a coach wants to know that student-athletes did their best not only athletically, but also academically. So long as a student makes his best effort with every play and in every classroom on every homework assignment and in every practice, a coach will see that the athlete is a class act.