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Tips to Help Athletes Reach their Potential

1. Finding ways of making practice fun and coaches that do this, as well as teaching the values of teamwork and sportsmanship, are priceless examples of positive parenting and coaching in sport.

2. Learning the correct fundamentals is priceless for athletes. Having players receive professional, fundamental instruction, when access to a capable coach is not available, can make a big difference in an athlete's physical and mental development, and well worth the cost of the instruction.

3. Parents, who can patiently reinforce a knowledgeable coach's suggestions, instead of insisting on doing it their way, are the most helpful.

4. Finding programs that promote fun and fundamentals are ways of keeping players' interested, educated, and sharp. This is especially important when players have had a negative coach.

5. Preseason training, with a gradual increase in practice, is necessary to avoid injury, ease a player physically, mentally back into a sport, and prepare them for success.

6. Sport specific training aids, which players can use at home, are good.

7. A few weeks of post-season practice, when athletes have the sport in their mind, can be beneficial for the following season preparation.

8. Rest periods and off-days are necessary for youth in order to avoid burnout and remain physically and mentally sharp. Parents should avoid over- scheduling kids with too many sports, or teams, which take away all of their free time to be kids.

9. Teaching game strategy at an early age can go a long way to staying ahead of the competition. A great way to do this is by attending higher-level games of sport, so kids can observe the correct way to do things. Pointing out strategic and fundamental aspects of the game is good, positive coaching.

10. Bigger, stronger, and faster athletes advance the furthest, so having young athletes perform age-appropriate speed and strengthening programs is beneficial to long-range success.

football coaching parental tips athlete

Not sure if your child has a concussion? Look for signs of disorientation, dilated pupils, stumbling, wooziness, and memory loss. “If you have to evaluate, chances are there is a legitimate concern,” says Siegel. Always err on the side of caution to avoid risking a more serious and permanent injury. Have the player sit out and seek the opinion of a health care professional immediately for an evaluation. “It generally takes two full weeks or more before a concussion fully heals,” says Siegel. “Head injuries are very serious and can cause severe damage to a child's brain. It is much better to sit out a day or a few weeks than risk a serious and possibly permanent brain injury.”

athlete concussion