Research found that 70% of children stop or quit playing sports by age 13.
This could be down to financial cost or that children are putting too much pressure on them by parents to succeed, which leads to the fun being taken away.
As parents, we want our children to do their best, but seeing your child look unmotivated or not put in the effort can be frustrating.
It's important to remember that for any child to be successful at sport, they need three ingredients: Enjoyment, Ownership, and Intrinsic Motivation. All of these come from within us and not from parental pushing.
Now, we might wonder, how can I help my child succeed? What can I do?
I'm here to let you know that not all pushing is terrible.
Positive Pushing can be very positive for a child, compared to Negative Pushing, which leads to parent frustrations, comparisons, shamming, and nagging.
Here are Positive and Constructive Ways to push your child:
Ask the Right Questions
How did training go? What new skill did you learn? Asking one or two questions will show your interest, but by asking too many questions, your child could feel like they have been pressured.
Offer opportunities for your child to work outside of practice
Create opportunities for your child to develop their skills while creating time for them outside practice.
This could be 20 minutes each morning or nighttime.
It's important not to push; if they say no, bring it up again when they are ready to improve their game.
Be at as many games as possible.
Showing up to games goes a long way to encourage and motivate your child.
It shows that you support them and are interested in what they enjoy.
This may lead to them pushing themselves to do their best.
Praise Hard Work
Growing up in youth sport can be challenging, and your young player may not score all the points, but if they chase down the attacker, get back in a defensive line, or put in the effort to better their skills as a player, it is necessary to praise them.
Let your child make their own choices.
Children must learn accountability. Children making their own choices have to accept the responsibility and outcome of their choices.
This is a way to teach young players to take responsibility and owenership of their sport.
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