Earl Woods nicknamed his son the chosen one"; Mike Agassi rigged his newborn's crib with a tennis ball mobile. Over the top, maybe, but it's hard to argue with the success of Tiger Woods and Andre Agassi. Even if your child is not destined for ESPN highlights, there are good reasons to help him be the best athlete he can be. Becoming a varsity captain can be just as useful in getting into a great college as acing the SATS.

Here's how to instill dreams of Wimbledon without pushing your child in Hazelden.

Know your Role

After you spend all summer teaching your daughter to play point guard, the coach puts her at center. Keep your mouth shut. "Never contact the coach during the season to question strategy," says Dan Doyle, author of The Encyclopedia of Sports Parenting. "Matters of strategy fall within the coach's domain, not yours." Stepping over the line with a coach is a sure way to sabotage your child's chances of success.

Avoid Postmortems

To minimize a young athlete's stress, try what sports psychotherapist Jay Granat, PHD, calls the "silent lessons." After a coaching session, "go out for ice cream, but don't talk about the practice until later, if al all," he says. "This helps awaken the idea of play. No criticism, no rules...just fun."

Teach Visualization

"Have your child relax and revisit a time when he felt really good about himself. Such as after he hit a home run and was mobbed by his teammates. This technique works with kids as young as 8 years old. It also aids with focus and helps calm the nerves, ensuring optimum performance.

Ration the Praise

Just as you shouldn't reprimand your kid over a strikeout, avoid getting too jacked up about a superb performance. If Dad weeps for joy over a no-hitter, a child may wonder what happens if they pitch a bad game?

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