Christie Pearce Rampone, a two-time Women’s World Cup champion, three-time Olympic gold medalist, and former captain of the US Women’s National Soccer Team teamed up with sports neuropsychologist and brain health expert Dr. Kristine Keane to provide tips to sports parents.
The authors of “Be All In: Raising Kids for Success in Sports and Life,” in a recent Ultimate Sports Parent Radio interview addressed topics that include alleviating youth sports pressures, dealing with perfectionists, helping kids learn from mistakes and why to avoid specialization.
One of their most important messages for sports parents: Pay attention to what you’re saying to kids about sports on the sidelines and during the car ride home. The authors speak from experience: Both are sports moms.
“We like to educate parents about how kids develop their inner voice and critic, and how what parents say contributes to that,” says Keane.
Parents should be aware of their individual children’s personalities and relationships with sports, says Rampone. Some kids are more competitive than others.
“As a parent you have to take a step back and be aware of how you are communicating with your child and what you truly want to get out of sports as a family,” she says.
Another important issue: youth sports specialization. “The number one thing we are seeing is pressure to specialize in one sport and train all year round in one sport,” says Keane.
When sports kids specialize, they lose free play, which limits their ability to decide which sports to play. Specialization also opens the door to overuse injuries, perfectionism and loss of social identity, she says.
“When you commit yourself to one sport at such a young age, you lose who you are as a person. You want to make sure you can take a step back and realize why you are playing that sport,” says Rampone.
Playing different sports exposes young athletes to different perspectives and environments, which is good for them socially and good for their self image. Often, kids who specialize have their whole identity wrapped up in sports.
You can listen to the entire interview with the authors:
Related Articles on Youth Sports:
- Young Athletes Need these Two Mental Skills for Success
- What Do Parents of Successful Athletes Do Right?
- Communicating With Young Athletes Is Key To Success
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