2022.08.19 15:58
Sports Articles Advice For Young Athletes
Budrigannews.com – Here are some sports articles with advice for young athletes: Accept failure, try harder and make the most of every opportunity. All athletes experience disappointments, but this can serve as an opportunity to grow and develop character. For example, Babe Ruth struck out 1330 times in his lifetime and Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team before he became an NBA superstar. Instead of beating yourself up, commend your young athlete for their hard work and courage.
Avoid playing-up or playing on a more advanced team
When choosing a sport for your young athlete, it is important to remember that it can be harmful to push your child too hard too early. While it is not uncommon for older siblings to play up, the stress associated with playing on a team of their own age can be detrimental to their health. The best way to prevent overuse injuries is to slowly ease your child into the situation. Young athletes should be paired with more experienced teammates at their age group.
Encourage young athletes to be positive about their abilities and role on the team
Ensure young athletes are confident about their abilities and their role on the team. By teaching them to make balanced assessments of their performance, abilities, and role on the team, parents can help their children develop a healthy mindset. They can also develop positive process statements. In addition, young athletes should learn to accept that they may not always be the best player on the team. However, parents must also remember to encourage them to make mistakes.
To keep young athletes motivated, parents should set attainable goals. Although setting goals can be a motivating factor, they can backfire if they are not realistic or tangible. Encourage young athletes to set goals related to their individual and team performance. Setting goals based on improvement is more motivational than win-based goals. These goals can be practice-related, such as improving attendance, drill performance, and motivation among teammates.
Avoid coaching abusive behavior
Athletes are susceptible to abuse and harassment from their coaches, but how can coaches avoid fostering an abusive environment for their young athletes? According to civil rights lawyer Nancy Hogshead-Makar, three-time Olympic gold medalist and co-chair of Team Integrity, the biggest risk factor is coaches. The following guidelines will help coaches prevent abusive behaviors toward young athletes. Athletes who have experienced abuse should contact the appropriate authorities for support.
Bullying is the most common type of abusive coaching behavior in young athletes. Bullying coaches may use intimidating tactics to gain control over their athletes, doubt their child’s commitment, and make fun of them in front of their teammates. Coaches who bully their players may not be aware of the danger they’re creating, and this can make them vulnerable to emotional abuse. Thankfully, there are many ways to protect your child from the bullying coaches and other potential emotional abusers.
Avoid overtraining
Overtraining young athletes can have disastrous consequences. Athletes who train too much can injure themselves, or worse, burn out. A researcher from UPMC Sports Medicine says that athletes who train too much are more likely to sustain injuries or burnout. Consequently, they do not perform as well as those who don’t overtrain. But how do we avoid overtraining? By following three simple rules, we can prevent burnout and injury in young athletes.
The first sign of overtraining is the frequent occurrence of illnesses, especially respiratory ones. The immune system is suppressed during intense training, making a person more prone to colds and coughs. Young athletes who are over-trained are more likely to develop depression, low self-esteem, and mood swings. Consequently, parents and coaches must be alert to signs of overtraining. Overtraining in young athletes can result in these conditions, so the importance of assessing the risks is vital for the development of healthy bodies.
Encourage young athletes to take time off
Coaches should encourage young athletes to take time off from a particular sport every year. In addition to taking a break from competition, these athletes should keep their bodies active and healthy by participating in physical activities outside of structured sports. It’s important to allow at least three months off per year, but ideally more. This will allow the body to recover from the stress of competition while allowing the mind to process the positive aspects of the experience.
Taking time off can be difficult for young athletes, so it’s important to make the process as pain-free as possible. Athletes can become overwhelmed with their new free time, and parents should be encouraging enough to allow this rest. New activities can be life-enhancing and enjoyable, and can be a great way to spend time with your family. Try new activities together to make the most of your time off.
