For the last round of research, I will be exploring how pressure can be lifted off of athletes and finding strategies that athletes, coachs, and parents can use to be better support.
One important strategy is having open and judge free communication between athletes, parents, and coaches. Adults should listen carefully to athletes’ feelings and ask questions instead of just focusing on performance. When athletes feel understood and supported, they are way more likely to deal with stress in a healthy way. Parents and coaches can focus more on effort, improvement, and enjoyment than only winning games or getting perfect results. (1)
Another strategy is having hobbies and activities outside of sports. Athletes can benefit from spending time with friends, participating in hobbies, and having opportunities get away from competition. This can improve emotional well being and reduce burnout. Praising athletes for their progress instead of just results can help create a more supportive environment. (2)
Parents can also play a huge role in reducing pressure. Allowing children to choose the sports they enjoy and avoidingcritical behavior after games can have a huge impact in confidence for them. Positive encouragement and respect toward coaches can help athletes feel more motivated. It also shows negative reactions from adults can increase anxiety and fear of failure in young athletes. (3)
Coaches can support their team by focusing on development of each athlete instead of just competition results. Strong relationships between coaches and athletes improve performance and emotional well-being. Coaches who communicate clearly, support learning from mistakes, and prioritize growth help athletes gain resilience and confidence.(4)
Resources:
- https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/expert-qa/student-athlete-mental-health
- https://www.kidsmentalhealthfoundation.org/es/mental-health-resources/sports/help-youth-athletes-focus-mental-health?
- https://appliedsportpsych.org/resources/resources-for-parents/dos-and-donts-for-parents-of-young-athletes/?
- https://www.innerdrive.co.uk/blog/coaches-parents-guardians-support/?
Thank you for reading!
