8/8/23 blog post
3 ways to support a student athlete
make a game plan for mental wellness
If you are a parent or caregiver of a young athlete, you realize that it is important to build a healthy foundation with your athlete about all aspects of their life. From when they sleep to what they eat, different factors can impact their performance. But did you know that mental wellness is also an important part of the training plan that needs focus.
Making a game plan for mental wellness with your athlete will provide a tremendous amount of support that may help them see the physical results they're hoping for in the game.
Here are three ways you can support your student athlete and help them score both on and off the field.
1. Concentrate on conversations with your athlete.
This includes making sure they feel comfortable talking with you and other trusted adults about the issues they face. Having conversations with your young athlete can help you to recognize any signs of burnout and address the issues before they become a larger problem.
The car rides before practice or a game are great places to start a positive and open ended conversation. You can start the conversation with these four topics:
1. The importance of the sport in your athlete's life.
2. How to have a well-balanced life during the sport season.
3. Staying engaged in the sport, even when times get tough.
4. Exploring and understanding the challenges of the sport.
If you want to explore these topics more and find some conversation starter questions to help, click here to download the free Parent Playbook.
2. Hold healthy huddles with coaches
A young athlete’s parents or caregivers and their coach should be a team. And these teammates’ goals should be to create a positive, nurturing environment for the athlete to learn and grow in. It’s important to respect a coach’s position while advocating for your athlete. This can be achieved by parents and caregivers making an effort to have consistent conversations with coaches.
If it's hard to know the right time or way to approach a coach, click here to download the free Parent Playbook for more tips on talking with coaches.
3. Win with a positive atmosphere for your athlete
There are many reasons why your athlete may have chosen to play their sport (or sports). Whether they have goals to play professionally or enjoy the community and activity they get from playing, we have to create positive environments for young athletes to flourish.
Young athletes aren’t always as expressive with their feelings but pressure from playing sports and being competitive can wear on them and their mental health. That’s why it’s important as their biggest fan and supporter, you create a positive atmosphere.
If you want more information about how to create this winning atmosphere, click here to download the free Parent Playbook for a guide on connecting with your student-athlete.
request the free Parent Playbook today
You don't have to come up with this game plan all on your own! The experts with On Our Sleeves and Dayton Children's Center for the Female Athlete have created a free playbook with all the tips and guides you need to score! Click the button below to get your copy of the free Parent Playbook emailed to you and get started supporting your student athlete in their journey!
