If you are raising young athletes, the best thing you can do to help is to support them. Any sport will benefit your child by teaching leadership, patience, discipline, and coordination. It also builds mental and physical strength.
But as a parent, how does one support a young athlete? What role should you play in their sports life? Here are some of the ways you can help your young athlete and become a winning parent.
1. Emotional support
Young athletes are naturally competitive, and they usually want to win and be the best. However, they will inevitably experience losses or feel that someone else is better at their sport. This is where your emotional support can make a difference. Motivation and encouragement don’t mean telling them they’re the best or bad-mouthing their opponents. Instead, support them in accepting losses as part of the game and focus on areas for improvement.
Help your child process their emotions by guiding them to embrace failures and see them as learning opportunities. Encourage extra practice or seek professional coaching if needed.
Here are some do’s and don’ts for providing emotional support:
Do’s:
- Attend their games and practices, showing active interest in their progress.
- Cheer them on and celebrate both their effort and outcomes.
- Offer encouragement after losses and remind them of their worth beyond the game.
- Give them positive feedback for their hard work, regardless of the result.
- Collaborate with their coach, fostering a positive relationship.
Don’ts:
- Scold them for mistakes or poor performance.
- Compare them to other children who perform better.
- Overreact to referees’ decisions or team dynamics.
- Place blame on others (teammates, coaches, referees) when things don’t go well.
- Pressure them to win at all costs or make them feel guilty for losing.
2. Nutritional Support
Proper nutrition is crucial for young athletes, as it fuels their minds and bodies for peak performance. A balanced diet supports physical endurance, mental sharpness, and injury recovery.
As a parent, you can play a vital role in promoting healthy eating habits without making your child feel restricted. The key is moderation and balance, allowing occasional treats while maintaining a foundation of nutritious meals. Presenting healthy food in fun, appealing ways can also encourage them to enjoy what’s good for their bodies.
Do’s:
- Prepare balanced meals with protein, carbs, and healthy fats.
- Find creative ways to make nutritious food appealing, like fun lunchbox designs.
- Involve your child in meal planning and preparation to help them understand food choices.
- Encourage hydration with water or homemade smoothies instead of sugary drinks.
Don’ts:
- Force them to eat foods they dislike in large quantities.
- Eliminate treats, as this may cause them to crave junk food.
- Put them on restrictive diets meant for adults.
- Scold them for indulging in occasional unhealthy snacks.
3. Financial Support
Sports can involve expenses, such as gear, training, or travel for competitions. It’s important to be mindful of your child’s needs while managing financial constraints. Supporting your young athlete financially means providing what you can and being open about what is feasible while prioritizing experiences that enhance their skills and enjoyment of the sport.
Do’s:
- Ask your child what equipment or training they need to improve.
- Research cost-effective alternatives like second-hand gear or local clinics.
- Support private coaching or specialty camps if it’s within your budget.
Don’ts:
- Make promises you can’t keep regarding expensive gear or training.
- Dismiss their requests without explaining your reasoning.
- Sacrifice essential family needs for sports-related expenses.
4. Encourage a Healthy Sports-Life Balance
As children become more committed to sports, it’s essential to help them maintain a healthy balance between their athletic, academic, and personal lives. Encouraging them to take time off to rest, focus on school, and socialize with friends outside of sports will help them avoid burnout.
Do’s:
- Encourage them to participate in other activities they enjoy.
- Help them schedule rest days for physical and mental recovery.
- Ensure they are keeping up with academic responsibilities.
- Support social time with family and friends outside of their sport.
Don’ts:
- Pressure them to train excessively at the expense of their education or social life.
- Make sports the sole focus of your relationship with your child.
5. Don’t Be a Helicopter Parent
Avoid being overbearing or too involved in your child’s sports experience. It’s easy to get caught up in the competition, and I want to protect them from any difficulties, but giving them space to grow, learn, and navigate challenges on their own is essential. Helicopter parenting can put unnecessary pressure on your child and may even push them away from the sport.
Signs of helicopter parenting to avoid:
- Arguing with the coach, referee, or other parents.
- Constantly questioning playing time or coaching decisions.
- Inserting yourself into team dynamics or disputes.
- Over-managing their training routine.
Instead, be present and engaged in a supportive way. Focus on fostering their growth, resilience, and independence, and trust that they’ll learn valuable lessons through both victories and setbacks.
6. Encourage a Growth Mindset
Helping your child adopt a growth mindset—where they see effort and learning as keys to success—can improve their long-term development. Teach them that abilities can be developed through hard work and that failure is simply an opportunity to improve.
Do’s:
- Praise their effort, not just their success.
- Encourage them to set personal goals based on improvement, not comparison.
- Help them reflect on challenges and how they can overcome them in the future.
Don’ts:
- Discourage them from trying new things or sports out of fear of failure.
- Focus only on winning as the measure of success.
Simply put, be a cool, supportive parent that your young athlete can be proud of. Love and accept your child for who they are and what they can do. Use sports as a tool to teach life values—like integrity, discipline, humility, and courage—rather than as a means to fulfill your own dreams for your child. Your child will thrive with your guidance and thank you for the love and support.
