-
Support for your child must be unconditional.
-
Be patient for the process, and enjoy it.
-
Understand how the developmental progression works for sports skills.
-
Be knowledgeable that many of the developmental milestones for sports skills cannot be accelerated beyond their natural limit.
-
Realize that physical, chemical, and mental development all affect ability and all progress along different timetables.
-
Support achievements as they occur. This will reduce pressure to achieve skills that are not quite ready.
-
Remember, your child has his or her own likes and dislikes and should be able to participate without pressure to choose a certain activity.
-
Remember that there are developmental patterns for chemical changes that allow your child to be able to progress in training intensity when it is time.
-
Understand the extra changes that occur in the puberty transition from child to teenager.
-
Don’t overreact to normal developmental processes and changes that occur during puberty and may temporarily affect ability.
-
Understand the profound developmental effect of a firm positive foundation of self-esteem on future performance and ability to handle competitive pressure.
-
Redefine success and make sure performance disappointments are not seen as failures that the child might take personally.
-
Teach your child that winning means a lot more than a gold medal (you first have to believe that yourself).
-
Encourage your child any way you can.
-
Find more things your child is doing right than things to criticize.
-
Support by being visible at their events.
-
Keep your comments positive without a lot of addenda or stipulations.
-
Help your children take some responsibilities for their sport without making them feel overwhelmed with duties.
-
Watch for warning signs of burnout or avoidance.
-
Remember your child is a child, not a child-sized adult.
-
Help your child set realistic goals (not your goals).
-
Allow changes in sports, and encourage exposure to different sports.
-
Instill a sense of value in exercise and fitness regardless of structured competition.
-
Communicate sincerely and often with your child about his or her desires.
-
Help your child build a strong sense of self-worth and identity that is not dependent on the sport itself or level of achievement.
-
Provide positive momentum by celebrating reality successes as often as possible.
