Just occasionally you have the chance of witnessing something special when you are either training or watching a youth sporting event. You see something extra in a child that “x” factor, that extraordinary internal drive – the combination of dedication and practice doused with a touch of raw talent that sets some children above others. But as a parent there is no book or courses that outline steps or guidelines to follow for parents to lead their children down the path to becoming an elite athlete. In addition to this with all of the hype around these days about the importance of participation and deemphasise on competition and avoiding overtraining and burn out at a young age, as parents, are we “pushing” our children and placing excessive pressure on them? If we all take that notion, where does that leave those children who potentially have the ability to obtain excellence in the sporting field? What role does the parent have in fostering the career of a young athlete who has the talent, interest, passion and drive to want to pursue their future in sport? To succeed, sport like any other field of study, requires hard work, dedication and talent. If a parent/s can provide the right guidance, support and encouragement the lessons learnt in sport are just as important and relevant as pursing a path of excelling in maths, music, or any other areas of performance. Guidelines to Follow As a parent we must identify and continually positively reinforce the child’s interests and talents and install in them the value of goal setting. Teaching them to set realistic goals that are totally obtainable, unrealistic goals are setting the kids up for failure. Goals that are time orientated or skill based. E.g. improve my time in 100m by .5 sec by Nationals, kick properly and accurately with both feet by end of season. Have a positive outlook and continually praise children, (this is a given in all situations not only sport) all children no matter what level need and thrive on positive energy and the right words from a parent will have a profound effect on them. Positive experiences instil higher self esteem, self worth and self confidence, all recipes for success in life as well as sport. Value their performance, not the winning, and leave any disappointments in their performances to that private discussion when you have had time to settle down and gather your thoughts. A parents love, support and respect should be unconditional and not based on a child’s performance. Sport should always be fun, if the enjoyment goes from sport and the child has to be asked to attend training and/or complains, the fun element is not present, it becomes a chore. The discipline and hard work aspect of sport should come easily and be relished; the kids should be in LOVE with their sport. Most importantly, parents must teach the value of not fearing the risks of competition: if you lose, it is acceptable as you love what you are doing, how can you fail if you love what you are doing? Elite youth athletes do exist and if by chance you have one in the family, the role of the parent should be to nurture, support, impart wisdom and provide opportunities for the child to engage and strive for excellence in their chosen passion. The world needs a steady stream of sporting heroes for future generations to aspire to and provide inspiration to the masses.
Article Source: http://www.bizymoms.com/expert-advice
Donelle McInerney is a teacher, coach, mother, wife, motivator and business woman. She has over 3 decades of experience in guiding teens, assisting them to set goals and encouraging and inspiring them to achieve their best. Her coaching children in sport website is www.kidsgoingforgold.com