Posts
When teaching, coaching and developing a youth athlete, it's important to build both skill-set and mindset. You can't have a complete athlete without intentionally developing both. You also need to focus on building a complete athlete who's athleticism can cross all sports and will lead to an active and healthy lifestyle for later in life.
Athleticism
They have to have the strength and coordination to be able to perform all the movements that it takes to have success in their sport.
Skill-set
They have to have skills needed to have success in their sport.
Mindset
They have to have the mindset needed to commit and have the grit to work to build up their athleticism and skill-set, and the grit to overcome the many setbacks that they will encounter.
Athleticism
They have to have the strength and coordination to be able to perform all the movements that it takes to have success in their sport.
Skill-set
They have to have skills needed to have success in their sport.
Mindset
They have to have the mindset needed to commit and have the grit to work to build up their athleticism and skill-set, and the grit to overcome the many setbacks that they will encounter.
It is a Marathon - Not A Sprint
It takes years - really a lifetime - to fully grow and develop our skill-set and mindset completely, so be patient, consistent and diligent.
Use others as a healthy gauge on progress, but don't compare your youth athletes to others because it's an unhealthy headache. Kids grow and develop at different stages, and sports development is no different. Success in sports is a marathon and not a sprint. You want to establish a healthy relationship with sports and a solid foundation early so that they keep with it and don't burn out or quit too early.
Use others as a healthy gauge on progress, but don't compare your youth athletes to others because it's an unhealthy headache. Kids grow and develop at different stages, and sports development is no different. Success in sports is a marathon and not a sprint. You want to establish a healthy relationship with sports and a solid foundation early so that they keep with it and don't burn out or quit too early.
Know what characteristics you want to see and start to emphasize and encourage it. Get out with your athlete and work with them, teaching skill but always emphasizing the correct mindset. Talk to them and model for them what they should see, do and think, but do so in a way that they are in as much control of their learning as possible - you don't want robots.
Teach and model what their thought process should be - help them humbly receive success and graciously accept failure. Teach them that it takes practice to master something and to be good. Encourage them to appreciate the process that it takes to be good over the end results because the love of the process will allow them to have consistent, sustainable success. The love of results might keep them from getting out of their comfort zone in fear of failure.
Teach and model what their thought process should be - help them humbly receive success and graciously accept failure. Teach them that it takes practice to master something and to be good. Encourage them to appreciate the process that it takes to be good over the end results because the love of the process will allow them to have consistent, sustainable success. The love of results might keep them from getting out of their comfort zone in fear of failure.
Ask them questions like what do you see, what should you do next, and then just let them play! The best way to learn is by doing. You are just a facilitator. You can't make someone a pro or college athlete - they have to have the heart for it and the commitment level for it - you can only be a guide on their journey. The lessons you teach will never go in vain - whether they make it to the pros, college, or quit sports altogether like so many when they get to high school. The lessons of grit, teamwork, goal setting, servant leadership, etc will last a lifetime!
Never underestimate the importance of teaching certain athletic characteristics that are universal to all sports. How to run correctly, how to sink your hips and chop your feet to stop and change directions, how to push off the correct foot when changing direction, how to jump and land on the balls of your feet while activating your quads, hamstrings, and glutes are all things that all athletes need to be able to do efficiently to have athletic success. Stop/go. Accelerate and decclerate. Change of speed/change of direction. Quick and active feet. These are all skills that all athletes, regardless of sport, need to have success. Teaching them how to squat, lunge, do push-ups and pull-ups are all great strength building exercises that are the basics to being a quality athlete. Teach your athletes how to be athletes, and not only will be they be able to play sports at a higher level, but it will help them live active, healthy lifestyles their entire lives.
Never underestimate the importance of teaching certain athletic characteristics that are universal to all sports. How to run correctly, how to sink your hips and chop your feet to stop and change directions, how to push off the correct foot when changing direction, how to jump and land on the balls of your feet while activating your quads, hamstrings, and glutes are all things that all athletes need to be able to do efficiently to have athletic success. Stop/go. Accelerate and decclerate. Change of speed/change of direction. Quick and active feet. These are all skills that all athletes, regardless of sport, need to have success. Teaching them how to squat, lunge, do push-ups and pull-ups are all great strength building exercises that are the basics to being a quality athlete. Teach your athletes how to be athletes, and not only will be they be able to play sports at a higher level, but it will help them live active, healthy lifestyles their entire lives.
Most importantly, enjoy the journey! You only get one go'round with your youth athletes - take pictures, make videos, and cherish each moment. Tell them after every practice and game how much you LOVE watching them play, because one day soon, they won't be playing anymore. Don't let the bright lights and the allure of prestigious select teams, Instagram fame, and dreams of playing for National Teams cloud why we really do this! To share our love of sports and the health of physical activity with our kids.
No comments:
Post a Comment