Is your kid a natural on the field? It is easy to picture your child playing in little league all-stars, taking high school championships by storm, and being offered full-ride scholarships to play collegiate sports, but it’s much harder to get them there. Here are some simple ways to help your child on their way to professional sports.
Talk to Your Child about Their Goals
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It’s vital that you communicate with your child about how they would like their athletic career to develop. As much as you would love to one day be able to say, “That’s my little boy,” while watching Monday night football, pushing your child to pursue a sport they are not interested in—or sports when they would rather join the drama club or school orchestra—can make your child resentful, and effect your child’s education and career in the long-term.
Many athletic children are great at multiple sports. If your child is leaning toward pursuing sports in the future, it’s in their best interest to choose a single sport to focus on. In high school, they may only be able to participate in one sport. Sport seasons often overlap and may drive your child to physical and mental exhaustion. More specialized sports, like competitive dance and gymnastics require extensive training that necessitates complete focus on that sport.
Athletes that compete at a professional level—whether they do so in the FIFA World Cup, as NBA players, or as Olympic champions—sacrifice many of their other interests to perfect their sport. This path is not for everyone, but if your child hopes to eventually compete at this level it is vital that they understand the amount of time and effort they will need to spend on practices, games, and training.
Make Sports a Priority
You can help your child achieve their goals by making sports a family priority. Make time for practices and take the whole family to tournaments as often as you are able. There are very few sights as motivating as looking into the sidelines and seeing your entire family cheering you on.
While you can still match your child’s skill, take the time to practice with them, whether that means playing catch after school or playing singles at the local tennis court. Provide space in your home or yard for your child to practice, if possible, and do your best to make the needed equipment available. If you do not have the space or funds to help your child this way, talk to their coaches, local sports centers, and their teachers to arrange for space to practice and the equipment to do so. It is particularly important that children pursuing sports that require specialized gear—such as skates and pads for ice hockey players or quality goggles for swimmers—have what they need to compete.
Invest in Great Coaches and Training Materials
Some children set themselves apart in a particular position very early on. Whether this is as a studio’s star performance dancer or the team’s best pitcher, it is important that your child receives the proper training to capitalize on their skills.
While you may not be able to conduct your child’s training yourself, you can invest in these elements to help them progress:
- Professional equipment, like quality tap or ballet dance shoes
- Authoritative instructive materials, such as e-books for learning to pitch like a pro
- A knowledgeable coach who works well with your child
As a parent, the best thing you can do is offer constant encouragement and support for your child as they take their first steps toward professional athletic competition. Treat each achievement—whether it’s a touchdown or a shutout game—as a victory. Work as a team with your child to achieve their athletic goals and you may someday see them win the World Series or receive an Olympic gold medal.