Optimism
In my last post I mentioned that one cannot simply give young athletes confidence but they can give them hope. In my book Raising an Athlete I write a great deal about how athletes confidence comes and goes but good coaches are continually trying to develop optimistic kids. Good coaches and parents have a knack for keeping sports success and failure in perspective so that, whether kids have success or not, they feel good about themselves. Parents and coaches can achieve this optimistic attitude by stressing effort over results, and keeping expectations realistic. “You will get em next time” is one of the best things a coach can say to a young player.

Post from: Positive Parenting in Sports - Raising an Athlete

Positive Sports Tip of the Day

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Previously, I had written about my favorite word when talking to athletes was “we.” It gives off the feeling to youth that all (parents, athletes and players) are in it together and that the athlete does not have to figure it out or go it alone on their journey to be as good as they can be. That brings me to my least favorite word that people use sometimes when speaking to athletes - embarrass. “You embarrassed me out there” or “that was embarrassing the way you played” or “You should be embarrassed with that performance.”  All of those statements only serve to demean athletes and give the impression that the athlete is playing for the “sayer” of the statement. Kids should be encouraged to play for themselves, the team and for the love and fun of sport, not necessarily to please their parents or coaches. Of course, the by product of parents and coaches who are encourraging and positive is that players also play to please the adults too. In this way, all benefit and the word embarrass will not be part of youth sports. 

Post from: Positive Parenting in Sports - Raising an Athlete

One Word Never to Use with Young Athletes – Keys to Successful Parenting

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Keys to Success

Following are parenting tips to help bring out the best in athletes and to guarantee athletic success.
1. Begin working on skills at least 6 weeks before the start of practice and gradually increase the work load each week leading up to the season.
2. Begin teaching basic fundamentals at a young age without being overbearing with instruction, of course.
3. Use good training aids when affordable and available. For example, using and stressing the use of a batting tee to hitters of every age can make all the difference.
4. Learn as many quality drills as possible and perform them correctly, especially drills that address the player’s biggest faults. When a drill is good it will force a player to do a skill more efficiently.
5. Use practice time like a golfer uses the driving range – before games for getting loose and for developing grooved actions and after games for making adjustments.

Post from: Positive Parenting in Sports - Raising an Athlete

5 Keys to Success in Sports

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1. Making Sports Fun by Jack Perconte Image via Wikipedia Parents often become concerned because their...
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4. ABC’s of Positive Parenting in Sports – S Success – The old saying “nothing succeeds like success” does...
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