5 Ways to Be a Better Sports Parent
As a parent of a youth athlete, you want to do everything you can to help them succeed. But sometimes, it can be tough to know how to best support them on the journey. That’s where we come in! Here are the top 5 tips to help you be a better sports parent.
How can parents better support their youth athlete?
When we discuss youth athletes, we’re talking about any athlete below the high school level. The average age range for youth athletes falls between ages 3 to 13.
These are very important years for young athletes because they are just starting to develop their skills. For most youth athletes, this is when they will decide whether or not they want to continue with their athletic career through their teenage and if possible, adult years.
Parents play an integral role in helping young athletes along their athletic journey. As a parent of a youth athlete, you will be the one cheering on the sidelines, nursing injuries back to health, and supporting your athlete through the ups and downs of the athletic journey.
Because the intensity of youth sports has increased exponentially over the past few years, it is more important than ever for parents to know what to do to help their athlete succeed on the field or court.
While student athletes are chasing their dreams on the field, parents play an integral role on the sidelines to support their child’s athletic journey. Here are the top 5 ways parents can be a better sports parent.
Way #1: Make it Fun!
This might seem like a no-brainer, but kids want to do what they have fun doing. Parents play a huge role in cultivating a fun environment around sports and athletics.
At home is where the first sparks of passion for athletics will ignite in your child. When a youth athlete is truly passionate about the sport they play, you won’t have to beg them to train or practice.
You should also try to keep the environment light. Let’s face it. Youth sports are more competitive than ever before. Sometimes it’s tempting for parents to get too intense too soon with their children. This can have the opposite effect that you intend it to. One of the best ways to make it fun for your youth athlete is to keep things light.
Way #2: Keep Your Eye on The Prize
As a sports parent, it’s only natural to want to see your kid stand out through every level of their sports journey. However, the reality is that not every kid will show up to the first day of practice with heaps of natural talent. In fact, this is very rare. Most kids will have to work hard to develop the talent to thrive in the face of competition.
Sports are about more than just athletic success. They are also about the life lessons that your child will acquire along the way. Athletics can set your child up for success by teaching them discipline, how to succeed, how to fail, how to work with a team, and the value of hard work.
Way #3: Enjoy The Journey
Your youth athlete’s journey will fly by in the blink of an eye. That’s why it’s important to enjoy the journey while it lasts. Nobody wants to look back on their youth athlete’s sports journey and feel regret. So, find joy in every aspect of their development: win or lose.
Way #4: Multisport Athletes are the Way To Go
Specialization has been growing in popularity over the past few years. However, one of the most detrimental things that you can do for your youth athlete is limit their development to only one sport. Multisport athletes are more well-rounded, complete competitors. Through multiple sports, they can experience success in multiple environments.
Way #5: Rest and Recovery
Youth athletes face a lot of stress on both their bodies and minds. As a sports parent, it is your job to make sure that they are feeling their best so that they can increase their opportunities for success on every front. Everyone needs time to rest and recover, no matter their age. Make sure that you’re allowing time in your child’s schedule where they can just be kids and enjoy life.
You Can Help Your Child Succeed!
By following these tips, you can help your child succeed both on and off the court or field. If you want to learn more about this topic, head over to our YouTube video, where we discuss this topic in even more detail.