School is starting back up soon and so are fall sports. This can be a stressful time of year for young athletes with summer sessions and team tryouts just a few weeks away. momsTEAM shared a few pieces of advice for parents with a child trying out for the team this year:
- Emphasize that winning a spot on the team will only happen if she tries her hardest and puts forward maximum effort, and stress that she will not be evaluated on talent alone
- Prepare her for the possibility that she won’t make the team.
- Encourage her to be realistic about her chances.
- Find the balance between optimism and pessimism. Being overly optimistic puts extra pressure on kids to make the team; being too pessimistic about her chances will discourage her from trying her best.
We all want the best for our children, but the hard truth is some kids won’t make the team this year. momsTEAM also shared tips for parents whose child gets cut. Brook de Lench, the founder of momsTEAM, suggests offering love and support, validating their feelings, and coming up with a game plan for the next tryout to help a young athlete work through their disappointment. One aspect of the game plan could be to work with a private coach to gain confidence and learn technique during the off-season!
