The Advantages of An Inside-Out Mindset For Young Athletes
Too often today, young athletes are motivated for the wrong reason, says Kirk Mango, a former Division I gymnast who is now a coach and sports parent. He says many athletes seek external rewards, such as trophies, admiration from coaches and parents, poularity, and scholarships. The problem with what he calls an “outside-in” mindset: The rewards are fleeting, and don’t sustain young athletes, he says. “When you value something from the inside,... [Read More...]
Encouraging Sports Kids without Pressuring Them
Just how can sports parents encourage kids to take part in sports and support them—without pressuring them? That’s a good question, and the answers are not so obvious. Read on to get tips from Olympic fencer Tim Morehouse, who says his parents knew just how to support him as he grew into an Olympic athlete. “I was very fortunate,” he says. “My parents encouraged me to do different things that I loved.” The key, when kids are very young,... [Read More...]
Letting Go of Sports Kids During Practice and Competition
Sports parents need to release their young athletes to the game. That’s the word from H. Rothenberg, who has run a basketball program for 20 years and is the owner of Triple C Camp, Charlottesville, Va. What exactly does he mean by this and how can this improve your kids’ success in sports? Read on. When sports kids approach middle school, and sports become more competitive, it’s time for parents to take a step back and let go of their children,... [Read More...]
Pressure Sports Kids, and They Might Drop Out of Sports Altogether
One of our readers, a caring sports mom, has this confession to make: “I am guilty! I am a frustrated but well-meaning mother who has put pressure to perform on my children.” This is an important realization for this sports mom. She understands that pressure from parents does not help young athletes succeed. In fact, it can cause kids to lose confidence and drop out of sports. Read on, and you’ll discover that’s exactly what’s happening... [Read More...]
How Parents’ Expectations Hurt Athletes’ Confidence
Youth coach Doug Donaldson says he knows intuitively when one of his young athletes feels pressured by a parent’s expectations. And he also knows the problems such well-meaning expectations can create in young athletes. For example, one of his player’s mothers wants the child to play goalie in Lacrosse. But when the mother isn’t listening, the boy says he wants to play defense. “It’s a real quandary for him. He’s looking for Mom and worrying... [Read More...]
