I sat with this question after talking to one of my former college football coaches. I reflected on my time in sports coming up and mapping out the state in which sports are now. The bottom line is more times than not, the sport is more of a job, than a life enriching aspect of life. It is not fun anymore.

I have sat with parents who have had kids refuse to play a sport they once loved, and I have sat with kids who quit out of the blue. As parents of an athlete, the way we talk to the kids about failures and success on the playing field can increase or decrease their motivation to continue playing. Just as an adult would lose motivation for a job if they were being nagged by their boss every time they did something.

For parents, sports training and understanding the mental part of the sport is important. For young athletes, the sooner they are able to make sense of their experiences and develop the tools to face adversity, the more likely they are to stick with a sport and carry that resiliency with them once their careers are over.

• Do you feel that you respond the healthiest way to your kids when they don’t do well in their sport? Are you able to give out praise in the right way?
• Does your kiddo focus more on impressing the parent than focusing on the game or practice?
• Can you give constructive criticism without breaking the athlete’s confidence?
• Is there any fun in the sport you are in or watching your child in?

If there is uncertainty with these limited questions, you might benefit from coming to talk to me or another local athlete therapist. The world of sports are evolving so often, why not get a head start on the competition and set both you and your athlete up for success in the long run?

Interested in learning more or working with me, shoot me an email:

malique@trailblazer-therapy.com

Looking forward to working with you,

-Malique Taylor