How Can I Help My Child Athlete?
Being an athlete is a demanding activity for persons of any age, and that includes children. An athlete is more vibrant at a younger generation so that they can engage in strenuous physical activities and sports. If you have a child athlete, you most likely want to see your child perform at their best, and as a parent, you would need to know how to support your child in sports. You are closest to them, and support from you will go a long way to enhance their performance.
Young athletes face a lot of challenges. There is the pressure that comes from the coach, friends, and family to perform well at games; this could make them feel scared and get the jitters before every match, which hinders the child from performing at full capacity. There is also the unhealthy habit of making a comparison between oneself and another, exalting an athlete’s abilities and feeling inferior to them. I won’t forget the fear of being embarrassed or making mistakes and the fear of getting poor results. Young athletes who are afraid of making mistakes during gameplay too cautiously, which prevents them from actually doing their best.
To help your athlete child, you have to encourage them always to do their best without fear of the outcome. They must learn the benefits of hard work and consistency. Teach them that good things do not ever come easily; they have to practice regularly; this will help them improve and play with confidence, especially when your child is not right in sports. The following tips below will equip you with the knowledge you need to help your child succeed as an athlete.
Be present at games as much as you can:
Nothing shows you care about a child athlete like being present at his/her games. This is an excellent way to motivate your child in sports. Your presence means a lot to your child. Being absent regularly communicates a lack of concern and interest in what your child does, and that is no way helpful to your child’s performance or emotions. If you are busy with work or other engagements and you cannot make it to every game, do well to communicate this lovingly to your child explaining why you will be absent at some games. Also, tell a relative that will be present to make short videos and take pictures of the child. Then try to create time to attend some of the games; this will show that you care about your child’s sport. Care from family is a big motivator if you want your child to excel in sports.
Do not withhold praise:
A great way to motivate your child in sports is to be liberal with praise. This does not mean you should dish out words of praise when it is not deserved. Acknowledge hard work and milestones. When your child practices regularly and even does some extra practice or he improves in play and gets more time in the game with little or no bench time, acknowledge the child’s effort and celebrates improvements no matter how small they might seem. Say things like, “I’m proud of you, great game today” or “I see your aim has improved, well done.” This will go a long way to encourage your child athlete to do better. Some parents are overly stern, they are never pleased with whatever a child does, and they keep pushing such a child to get more results without acknowledging the progress and success that the child has achieved. This is very unhealthy, and if you are curious about how to support your child in sports, this is not the right way to go. It does the opposite of helping your child as he/she may become rebellious and stubborn.
Build your child’s confidence:
Confidence is a vital attribute an athlete should have. Teaching your child to be confident in his/her abilities is essential; feelings of not being good enough should not be entertained. Lack of confidence could stem from low preparedness or little practice; athletes who do not give themselves to regular training do not feel confident when it is time to play. As a parent, you help your athlete child by encouraging the child to take practice or training seriously, and that will help to boost the young athlete’s confidence.
Know your child’s goals:
To know how to motivate your child in sports the right way, you need to learn what is essential to that child. Know your child’s goals by asking the right question and listening to their reply, no matter how weird it sounds to you. Find out what they really want and how far they are looking to get in their sport. That way, you can give adequate support needed for them to achieve their goals. This is important, so you do not burden them with your expectations. If your child just wants to play for fun or wants to go into sports as a career, you will know how to help your child achieve what he/she wants to achieve. Desist from pressuring your child into doing something just because you want it for yourself. Think of your child as an individual who can make personal decisions.
Teach your athlete to make no comparisons:
Making comparisons can be quite unhealthy. This makes one view others as more competent or talented than they are; this can also reduce one’s confidence and performance. Educate your child on how toxic comparisons are; it is better to compare one’s past to one’s present performance, that way you get to work on your weaknesses and get better results in the future. Telling your child this is an excellent way to help them excel in sports and discard toxic habits.
Help them overcome losses:
You win some, and you lose some, but make sure to win more than you lose. When your child has trained and played his/her part in ensuring an outcome of good results, you must be there for them as a parent when they lose. Do not be the insensitive parent that yells when your child experiences a loss. Surely, you must have experienced not getting desired results after making an effort to do something. Be sensitive, encourage your child to move on from the loss and work harder towards the next game. You can even buy a treat to reward the efforts made by your child. As long as he/she continues to do their best, they will experience more wins than losses.
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Your child, as an athlete, needs your love and support. They must get this from you. Not only will that improve your relationship with your child, but it will also enhance his/her performance in whatever sport they choose to engage in. These tips I shared with you will go a long way to assist you help and support your child in the game. Do well to take note of every one of them and begin to act accordingly as a good parent. Be your child’s number one coach.