ATHLETES & PRESSURE

Young Athletes & Pressure

Today’s teenage athletes are faced with a different sports society, expectations and experiences than what we had to deal with fifteen years ago. Teenagers are growing up in a social environment that alone places allot of pressure on them.

This article is about the teenage athlete and the pressure of success that parent’s place on their kids. I read an article which listed several studies about youth sports. I found several things very interesting and frustrating to read.

Here are some facts from the studies

• Estimated that 36 million kid’s ages 6-17 years of age in the United States participate in team sports.
• The main reason kids play sports is to have fun.
• The Study revealed that 70 percent of players will drop out of sports before the age of 13.

The Suggested reasons for the drop out are!

• Loss of interest
• Pursuing different hobbies
• The kids no longer have fun

I really want to focus on #3. The kids no longer have fun. There can be many reasons for the player to not enjoy the sport. The things that I am concerned about are the players who do love the game. Sometimes they feel so much pressure that they believe that quitting the sport is their best option. These players usually quit because of the pressure applied on them by their Coaches, Parent’s and the Sports Community to be successful.

Where does the Athletic pressure come from?

Coach

The coach can sometimes demand too much from the athletes. It is the coaches job to place some pressure on his/her athletes. The coach should push the athletes to the best of their abilities in a positive manner. This pressure is expected from the athletes and parents. The athletes learn to deal and handle with the pressure from the coach to perform.

Parents

This is when the athletes really have a hard time dealing with pressure. Athletes do not like to be criticized, yelled at, or mentally abused by their parents. This pressure coming from the parents is when athletes feel over whelmed, and their confidence begins to crash.

Sports society and community

Teenage athletes have to handle pressure in the sports community one way or another. They have to socialize with other athletes who may be more successful. All athletes want to gain notoriety for their efforts and athletic ability.

The Athlete

Every athlete who is trying to play at a high level automatically applies pressure on them self’s. All athletes handle it differently. Some may show it by crying, by talking or they might just hold it in. Allot of teenage athletes turn to drugs which they believe will give them an edge in the sport. Some will turn to friends and family members, and some athletes will quit because they are having a hard time dealing with the pressure.

The Teenage athlete has to learn to deal with pressure in all aspects of their life. They are mentally being pushed in directions that can be hard to deal with. We as coaches, parents and friends need to help and support them when we can.

• Help them to handle pressure
• Parents need to support their kids and help them if they ask
• We as coaches and parents need to make sure the game remains fun
• Teenagers will talk about the sport or game when they are ready. Parents don’t push
• We need to let the kids be kids sometimes
• Encourage your child
• Always find and talk about the Positives of the game , stay away from the Negatives
• Don’t yell instructions during the game or practice session
• Try not to discuss winning or losing , but focus on play well and do your best
• Don’t push athletes for more training. Example (private training, camps) Give them the options and let them decide if they want to go our not.
• Tell them you love them before and after each game.

As a parent, you can’t take away the pressure that Teenagers are faced with in sports and society. You can help relieve allot of stress by taking away the pressure that you put on them. Most teenage athletes want to make their parents proud of them.

Let them know that you are!

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