There is a great deal of information available on sports injuries and how to prevent torn ligaments, nurse a sprain, and settle muscle cramps. But is there enough on how to prevent a torn spirit, or heal a sprained ego, or settle an unsettled athlete? Are coaches or parents  adequately trained to handle such issues in young athletes? Or are the athletes all too often left forever bruised?

There is plenty of misguided effort put forth by adults who want to win at all costs. They do not realize the potential for creating greater winning opportunity by utilizing positive reinforcement to build self esteem and bolster motivation, and the importance of being learned in the psychology of youth sports. Even having your own children qualifies to some degree in understanding this.

So much about sports is a positive mental attitude. It’s as important to stay in shape mentally as it is physically. However, depending upon the coaching or parenting  style, staying positive can sometimes be a challenge for young athletes. One stressful season can make or break an athlete in this regard. Perhaps some  might proclaim that the kids these days need to “cowboy up”. And yes, many of them do, but there is a way to go about doing that without being demeaning, belittling, unfair or insensitive in how they treat players.

Athletic ability and desire can be severely challenged by coaches and parents who do not understand the sensitivities of young athletes. Many adults likely do not even realize the impact they have on impressionable young athletes who look up to them as role models.

Maintaining open lines of communication is most important to the smooth operation of any entity. It’s no different in youth sports.  Depending upon the age of the player, encourage them to talk to the coach personally.  Sit down with them from time to time and ask them to fill you in on how they feel.  Ask them if they feel they are being pressured too much by you, or their coach.  If they are younger, and it appears they are having more tears than laughs, re-evaluate their desire to play sports, or your desire for them to play.

An open line of communcation can help to prevent tension from building to the point of being irreversible in terms of their desire to play youth sports. Remember too, their unhappiness or lack of desire “rubs off” on fellow team mates and can be detrimental to team spirit as a whole.  Trust me, when these kids are away on tournaments, or travelling on the bus to games, they talk.  If they are unhappy they will talk about how much they dislike what they are doing and team chemistry can quickly fall apart.

There are great coaches and parents who have never been star athletes. They are successful at maintaining positive chemistry because they understand the “business” of building a winning team in any endeavor.   Whether it’s at the office or on the pitch, they have a policy built on rewarding commitment and effort, and they set a good example in being a positive role model their players respect and can look up to.  The talent it takes to accomplish that is worth far more than any number of coaching certifications or trophies one might have collecting dust on the shelves.

Related posts:

1. The Champion’s Creeds 1-20
2. See you on the Pitch!
3. Building Character on the Pitch

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