How to Support Your Child Athlete

A serious child athlete needs lots of support from their parents because of the physical and emotional demands they put on themselves. You'll need to monitor his or her diet, sleeping habits and daily schedule, while always being there for them during competitions. With your constant support, your children will achieve the goals they set for themselves and, above all, they will be having fun!

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Understand that a child athlete is not exactly the same as any other child. They have a goal in their mind, a love for a sport and a natural talent. They spends a large chunk of every day devoted to their sport, which they have committed to. This is not the usual way most kids behave.

2. Provide the best nutrition you know how of for your child athlete. Keep complex carbohydrates, protein and water as the largest part of their diet, and encourage them to snack on vitamin-rich fruits and vegetables to keep their body strong and growing healthy. Sugary, fatty snacks and drinks only hinder their ability to complete a practice feeling great, and their performance and attitude will suffer.

3. Encourage healthy sleeping habits that are consistent every day. Without enough sleep, your child athlete will be tired and cranky and won't able to perform up to her abilities--if they get to practice at all.

4. Teach organizational skills early in their school career. Homework does not have to be done at night, after a tiring practice or after a game. Teach your child to always write assignments down in a book so important tasks can't be forgotten. Help your child stay on top of their schoolwork so grades don't suffer.

5. Provide reliable transportation to practice so your child knows what to expect at the same time every day. They'll get in to the habit of packing their swim bag the night before or bringing track shoes to school if they need to. This way, you avoid the stress of rushing and forgetting important items.

6. Pay the sport bills, tuition and competition fees as on time as you can to maintain a good relationship with your child's training facility and coaches.

7. Always be a positive role model for your hardworking child. Cheer for them whenever it's their turn, and let them know you're proud of all their efforts no matter what the outcome. Serious, high-achieving child athletes know their goals and when they have not achieved them, they will punish themselves more than you ever could, so model a positive attitude. You'll help them realize that there's always another game, meet or competition to prove themselves.

Tips & Warnings

• Help your child set goals for themselves and provide incentives for them in the form of treats they love, activities like a sleepover or trip to the movies, or new equipment they want to make achieving the goals even more fun.
• Subscribe to your sport's magazine for the athletes: Splash Magazine for swimmers and USA Gymnastics or Inside Gymnastics for gymnasts. Inside will be articles for parents and children about the sport and the athletes on the national scene, and training and competing advice to learn.
• Try to learn the scoring system or rules of the sport as soon as possible. That way, you will understand what your child is trying to achieve and be able to relate to what they are saying. Most of this information is widely reported and explained in the magazines, plus you can learn it at the competitions and from other parents.
• Encourage your child to make as many good friends on their team as possible so they know they are not alone in their efforts. It is hard to miss after-school events because of practice, or to miss weekend sleepovers because of a competition. This way, you'll be able to make up the fun time with friends on the same schedule as your child.
• Keep your child athlete hydrated at all times with clear, cool water. It will help remove lactic acid soreness from their muscles, while carrying nutrients throughout their body. In summer, watch for headaches and dizziness as a sure sign of dehydration--even in swimmers in the pool!
• Never berate your child in front of his or her peers or at a competition. If unsportsmanlike behavior rears its ugly head, remove him or her from the area and talk about it in private.
• Do not restrict your child from eating. Instead, provide lots of healthy choices and let your child athlete eat their fill. Beware of eating disorders in young girls, and do not relate bad performance to body size. Children eat right naturally (if they are not couch potatoes), if you've modeled the good behavior in your home.
• Be on the lookout for over-training or signs of burnout: poor attitude, skipping practice, pessimism, poor performance, lack of enthusiasm for competitions, pain in joints and undue stress or fear. Listen to your child and read between the lines!
• Try not to judge when watching practice on a daily basis. Training is hard for your child when he is in the higher levels of the sport, especially if he is still very young. Every day at practice can't be a good day, and skills take time to develop.