Nurture your Child to Sporting Greatness
- May 13th, 2015
- Camilla Chapman
Did you know that in the United States, nearly 1.1 million boys play American Football in high school but only 6.5% of that number will play in college? Furthermore, just 1.6% will then be drafted into the NFL and become professional?
Those figures show that realising the dream of becoming a professional sportsman or woman is not easy. But with the support of their family (in particular from parents) and commitment then your child can be on their way to sporting greatness. Here's some tips on how to help guide your child to making a career in sport!
Parents are a big influence on their child's life and their success, and they need all of your support to help them succeed in sport. It's a key moment when you realise that your child has stand-out ability but you must also understand that it may be difficult for others to see your child in the same way that you do! Some may believe that it's best to leave it to the trained professionals but it's not always that simple - respect what their coaches say and concentrate purely on positive support for your child.
The behaviour of parents on the sideline is now a big issue in any sport, with some parents directing abuse at not only their child but the officials too. The FA, since 2008, have been running the Respect campaign, aimed at tackling behavioural issues with parents and players at all levels of the game. They since have released a number of videos, such as the one below.
Ray Winstone stands up for the FA's Respect Program
Sideline presence is key but only if you are behaving appropriately; don't discourage or shout abuse, encourage your child and other players if in a team and don't reinforce negative feedback. To help your child succeed, although it's important to give them constructive feedback, when they are performing it's crucial to give them plenty of positive support!
We all want to see our children succeed but don't become a 'pushy parent!' There is no harm in your child being average in sport so don't be discouraged and in turn, don't discourage them. However if they are showing promise, it's important that you don't put them at risk of burning out, and then falling out of love with their sport. Don't push your child beyond their physical capabilities, as from a young age this could lead to repetitive injuries which could affect them later in life. Specialising in a sport at a young age can also not work as well as you'd hoped, particularly if they are playing a number of different sports. Allow them to decide when they reach the ages of 16 or 17, or risk your child becoming bored and losing interest of that one sport.
Foremost if your child is having fun, enjoying themselves and continues to love their sport, then the better chance they'll have of accessing big opportunities. It's not easy turning professional; the odds are often stacked against you and a lot of commitment is needed. Your child will need all the support that they can get from you, their parents, so encourage them. Don't discourage.