How to Support Your Child in Sports

If you have a child who is an athlete, or one that wants to be one, then there are a number of ways that you can support that child in sports. Raising an athlete child isn’t easy, but your efforts when they are young can help position them for success in the future. 

Whether you are looking for tips to raise an elite athlete or just ways to help encourage your kid to be more athletic, here are some great ways that you can support your sporting child.

Provide emotional support

The most important thing that parents can do to support their child in sports, or really in any activity, is to provide them with appropriate emotional support. 

Understand their interests

Does your child want to be an elite athlete? Do they want to play a sport for recreation instead of competition? Looking to push your child in sports when they would prefer to learn ballet or some other interest may be counterproductive and result in tension, conflict or disconnection.  Many children, of course, do have dreams of being an elite athlete, and if they do you can help raise them to that end. 

Protect failure

Though this may seem counterintuitive, there is much to be gained by failure. In sports, failure often means losses in competition, but it can also include struggling through a challenging skill. Allowing a child room to fail means providing them with a firm perspective on losing-as-growth, or frustration as a chance to learn. Sometimes supporting a child in sports is helping them know that it’s okay to fall down (and get back up again). 

Be a good role model

Melding good behavior and sportsmanship is crucial in raising an athlete child. As VeryWellFamily explains: “Be respectful of your child. Respect their teammates, coach, opponents, the officials, and the game itself, including its rules and traditions. You can even help lead the conversations that might help us fix youth sports and make it better for our kids.”

Provide opportunities to learn

To motivate a sporting child, it is a good idea to provide them with plenty of chances to learn. Whether these are lessons, camps, sports leagues or clinics, providing opportunities to improve their skills and knowledge are key to supporting your child in their sport. 

It is best when these opportunities are age and experience-level appropriate. Help your child to find, and get to, places where they can develop their skills, stamina, and physical fitness. 

Provide access to elite coaching

If you have a child who has the potential to be an elite athlete, then they need access to elite coaching. If you have clinics, coaching, or camps in your area that can give your child access to top-level coaching, then that will help motivate and push them in their sports. If you don’t have this type of access, then consider an immersive summer sports camp that can help elevate their game. The best way to support your child in sports is to give them the opportunity to learn from and with the best players and coaches for their sport.

Looking for an English language sports camp for your children? Exsportise has got you covered!