Children's Health & Wellness - Speed, Agility, Quickness

Health & Wellness: State of mind

For a young athlete, winning a competition can be one of the most exciting occurrences in his life, while losing a competition can be equally as devastating to his ego or confidence level. Of the hundreds of thousands who participate in competitive sports each year, few will make it to an elite level where they can make careers out of the sport. Therefore, youth participation in sports should be about fitness, mastering skills, learning about teamwork, overcoming challenges, setting goals, coping with stress, developing psychological characteristics and, most importantly, having fun.

The benefits of sports participation don’t come automatically. Significant adults and peers teach positive and negative attitudes and behaviors over time. Physical, psychological and social benefits must be planned, structured and taught – as well as positively reinforced.

Every child has different reasons for sports participation, but a few common themes have emerged as to why children participate in sports, including competence (learning and improving skills); affiliation (being with and making friends); team identification (being part of a group, team spirit); health and fitness; and competition and fun.

Much of a child’s motivation to begin and remain in a sport has to do with his own perceived competence in mastering skills. When these efforts are successful in the child’s eyes, his perception of competence and control increases. He is motivated toward seeking challenges, regardless of whether he wins or loses a game. Kids who draw on motivation from within to accomplish a task are different from those who are more interested in trying to impress peers, coaches or parents.

To help enhance psychological skills in children, coaches and parents can focus on skills of self-perception of competence and control, positive affect and intrinsic motivation. Parents and coaches can influence a child’s favorable self-perceptions and motivation by modeling (making positive comments, using constructive criticism toward the athletes and behaving calmly in tight situations), positive reinforcement and emphasizing the importance of mastering a skill, such as improving a swim stroke. If the child sees the coach or parent as being frustrated or out of control, he may blame himself. But if he sees the adult overcome failure or the pressures of sport, he may then believe he can overcome the same obstacles. He realizes he is not the only one who has experienced frustration and fear.

For children under age 10, positive feedback – including constructive criticism from adults – tends to be more important. Parents and coaches should always focus on the learning and mastery of a skill, rather than the outcome of a game. From ages 10 to 14, the importance is on peer comparison and evaluation, and from ages 14 to 18, youth athletes begin to rely less on peer evaluation and more on self-reference criteria.

Noel Taylor has a Master’s degree in psychology with a specialization in sport psychology. He is a member of USA Swimming and is an ASCA Level I swim coach. He is a former high school football and baseball player and former NCAA Division I-A collegiate cheerleader and tumbler for Texas State University. For more information, e-mail snstaylor01@bellsouth.net.