The leaves haven’t turned yet, but they flutter a bit more in the cool breeze.

The grass on the local soccer fields is still full and green, but not for long.

The high school sports teams haven’t played much, but that will happen soon.

The snow hasn’t yet started to fly, but it might before the next calendar month is over, according to the Farmer’s Almanac.

September is an exciting month for many reasons.

Parents are excited to send their kids back to school and enjoy some peace and quiet, while students can’t wait to greet old friends and start new friendships.

Teachers are excited for a few reasons, mostly to see what new things students will teach them this year.

Coaches are excited because, at least at the beginning of the month, none of the other teams in their conference can possibly be ahead of them in the standings.

Sports writers are happy because out of the sleepy doldrums of summer arises 23 teams worth of coverage in seven sports.

This particular sports writer is happy because there is hockey to cover before the NHL even opens up training camp.

But despite the joy that comes with a new school year, parents, teachers and coaches can sometimes get carried away. Perhaps the worst of all is when parents and athletes lose sight of why children play sports in the first place.

There is a certain pride that comes with playing varsity and junior varsity sports or watching your kids achieve their goals. But pride can go too far.

Stories from across the country show up every day about a mother, father or athlete getting so wrapped up in competition that they lose sight of the true meaning of sports. They forget that in the end, it’s just a game.

For some athletes, their future may depend on their performance, but that’s only a certain few. And yet college coaches still stress the importance of having fun.

Coaches in youth programs don’t get paid. Coaches in high school don’t get paid enough to deal with the stress that adds to their lives. These dedicated mentors don’t deserve the ire they draw from fans who think they can do better.

Here is suggestion: Give positive feedback to the players who do well. Don’t resent other athletes for getting more playing time. Don’t resent a coach for doing what he or she thinks is best during the course of the game, and don’t resent the other team when they are better. Winning and losing are both part of sports.

But hey, it’s autumn in Maine. Peel yourselves away from the television and saunter out to a local soccer field or golf course. Watch these aspiring athletes perform for the fun of it, and enjoy the crisp autumn weather. Just be careful how you say what you say and when you say it.

Oh, and keep your eyes out for those first flakes of snow. They aren’t too far away.

Justin Pelletier is a staff writer who can be reached by e-mail at [email protected]