Parents Gallery

As a parent of a young sports person, you have an important role in your youngster's future success. Your expectations have a significant bearing on your child's attitude to participation in sport.

Encouragement and positive reinforcement from you will contribute to them having:

• A sense of personal achievement
• An enjoyment of sport
• Improved physical fitness
• Better concentration
• Higher self-esteem
• A greater level of skill

 

If you are a parent of a young athlete and wish there were a textbook on how to do the best for you sporting child, read on. If you are one of those parents who have found themselves not just having to taxi their youngsters to various training and competition venues, but also on demand for reassurance, moral boosting, 'pick-me-up' counselling, technical expertise, sports nutritional advice, and many other roles than come with the territory of being a parent of an athlete, then help is at hand.

The following is a list of simple guidelines that can point the way to providing the maximum positive support for your budding sports star! Take note, there are some important does and don'ts, gleaned both from research literature on the coach-parent-athlete relationship and from years of observations of situations and relationships that have gone well as well as many that have gone disastrously wrong.
Take the time to find out what your youngster wants from sport, and help them to set realistic targets to achieve what they want rather than what you want for them! This may well involve controlling your own aspirations and avoiding the desire to force your own dreams of unfulfilled ambitions on them.

It is important to:

• Encourage but not impose on your child to be active
• Know when it is appropriate to compete
• Encourage a healthy lifestyle
• Take part yourself in games played within the family
• Promote and teach fair play at all times
• Help set realistic targets
• Help with decision making

Set an example for your youngster to follow

It is also important that you establish and maintain a working relationship with your child's coach. Remember also that many coaches are offering of their time on a voluntary basis and are doing the best they can with the knowledge and training they have.

• Communicate any concerns directly to the coach
• Give the coach every assistance when asked and show appreciation for a job well done
• Inform the coach about any injuries, illness, holiday absences etc.
• Make an effort to watch and support at competitions
• Ensure your youngster has the correct equipment/clothing

It is highly desirable that parents have a basic understanding of the principles of sport psychology in order that children are give the best opportunity to learn the four, key mental skills of:

• Concentration
• Confidence
• Control of emotions
• Commitment

Over the years I have had the honour of helping to maximise the competitive performance and enjoyment of many young sports performers who have suffered due to a less than optimal coach-parent-athlete relationship. While it is an immense privilege to work with such bright and gifted individuals, I also feel passionately that by educating parents in some basic principles of sport and performance psychology, not only will the chances of maximising potential increase massively, but the journey will become that much more enjoyable for everyone concerned!
For further information and to book group workshops and presentations, contact:

 

Ian Coleman MSc MNCH MNLP ATFTDx
Hi5 Performance
T: 08456 343153
M: 07941 505016
E: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it