At our annual meeting of Macaroni Kid last month we got to hear from 3-time Olympic skier, Emily Cook. She talked a lot about how her dad supported her on her journey. I’ve also been watching the TV Show “Pitch” about the fictional first female major league baseball player. The show is littered with flashbacks to her dad driving her to be the best.
And it got me thinking, could my kid be an Olympian? What do top athletes have and how to parents help or hinder their success?
One of the first things I found was to have your child try as many sports as possible when they are young. How many athletes never reached their peak in one sport because their parents pushed them into the “wrong” one? We’ll never know, but it’s surely happened. Even if your child shows an aptitude for one sport, even a love of it, keep introducing them to new ones. Emily’s success in aerial skiing came from a foundation of Gymnastics, combined with love of skiing.
Next is be aware of your child’s reaction to, and experience with different sports. My son hated baseball, but he played through Middle School because he felt obligated. When he switched to track, he was in his element and has found a sport he loves. We didn't push him either way, but followed his lead.
As your child finds success in a particular sport, be mindful of what success means. If it only means winning, then losses could be hard to recover from and minimize future enjoyment. Success can be as simple as improving. When Emily broke both of her feet right before the Salt Lake Olympics, the road to recovery was long. Success was certainly not winning. Now success was simply walking. Or walking further than the day before, or just skiing down a gentle slope. And recognizing each success helped her move on to the next, and the next.
And supportive parents encourage their kids to recognize their achievements. Even if they never make the Olympics, there are many accomplishments along the way that deserve, and should be recognized. Like Emily’s walking again. Or her just getting back on the ski hill. Did you child run half a second faster than last time? That's a success!
When your kids to compete, just be there for them. Don’t be the screaming dad. You may remember Ally Reisman’s parents squirming in the stands during the Gymnastics in Rio. Just chill, if you are tense, your kid will be too.
Last, keep perspective. you are more likely to win a million dollars in the lottery than you are to send your child to the Olympics (roughly 250 $1 million prizes each year, so 1,000 every 4 years, and the US sent 558 Athletes to RIO). But keeping in mind some of these tips can help your child get a bit more success and enjoyment from the world of sports.
You can see a bit of Emily's skiing below!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_vvqacNZek&index=5&list=PLItbKyWoSVOpSWI7k4jZNpa0KTGO3xlFN
You can see a bit of Emily's skiing below!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_vvqacNZek&index=5&list=PLItbKyWoSVOpSWI7k4jZNpa0KTGO3xlFN
