The romanticism of sport and the Olympics can have a very influential effect on its audience. For many youth viewers, participating in the Olympics can seem like a faraway dream only achievable by their sporting idols.
However, it is important to note that those sporting idols were once spectators and fans themselves who worked tirelessly for years to pursue and finally achieve their goal of representing their country on the international stage.
The journey from excited child to international athlete can be a long and tiresome road filled with many twists, turns, obstacles and sacrifices.
As a parent, you want to be there for your child and provide whatever’s necessary for them to achieve their goals and be successful. If your child is saying they want to be an Olympian, competing and make Brisbane 2032, that’s 11 years of training, physical improvement and competing, not to mention school, social factors and general life events.
That can be a lot for a growing child to cope with, emphasising the importance of parents and role models for providing guidance and stability throughout the journey.
As a parent, the best thing you can do for your child on their journey to the Olympics is:
The Olympics can inspire children to try a variety of sports. For many youths, being forced into a sport by their parents can have a negative impact on how they view and participate in that sport.
In doing so, children are more likely to struggle with adversity, lose interest in continual participation and eventually quit the sport altogether.
Parents can be supportive by seeking programs for sports of interest to the child and allowing them to choose what they want to participate in. In doing so, you are letting your child decide when and if they want to play sports and therefore including them in the decision-making process.
Allowing your child the right to determine when, if and how they play sport gives them a sense of ownership and improved sense of responsibility and commitment to their sport.
Being a supportive parent can also mean:
Parents can often fall into the trap of thinking they know what is best for their child.
In part, this is true. No one knows your child better than you do. But when it comes to developing a pathway for your child to achieve international sporting success, unless you have experience in it yourself, it is advised that you aim to develop an informed decision-making process.
Making informed decisions is a multi-step process that if actioned correctly, can largely influence future outcomes.
Some steps that can be followed through informed decision making are:
By using this multi-step process, we can remove emotion or external influence on a decision and instead rely on experience and analysis to determine the best course of action.
Let’s use a real-world example to see informed decision making in action. In this example, your child has expressed they want to be a 100m sprinter at the 2032 Olympics.
1. Identify the problem
First things first, is your child fast? Are they technically proficient in running and sprinting? Are they currently part of an Athletics Club? Do they have a coach? What type of training should they be doing? These are just some of the “problems” that require solutions if your child is to take their steps towards making the Olympics.
2. Collect information
This part is simple. The internet allows us to search for anything that comes to mind. In this parent’s case, searching for nearby athletics clubs, experienced coaches who work well with children, deep diving into customer reviews and speaking to other parents will provide an abundance of information that you can use to influence your decision.
3. Take your pick
Once you’ve gathered all your information, you are ready to make a decision that solves one/many of your previously identified problems. If you have followed through with your model, hopefully this decision isn’t too difficult for you. By now you probably have an idea for a suitable coach, club and any other external training you deem relevant. It is important here to not dwell too long as each decision will always come with an element of doubt. Trust your gut.
4. Develop a plan
After making your decision, you will need to put a plan in place to action it. Plans may include frequency of training, fitting it within your current weekly schedule, meetings and competitions. As a parent, it is not only your right but your responsibility to oversee your child’s sport participation. When in this step, it is important to maintain continual communication with your child and any other parties that may be included to ensure that your child’s happiness and enjoyment is maintained throughout.
5. Review decision and act accordingly
Once time has passed, you will need to review your decision to determine that you made the right call. It is important to ensure that your child’s wellbeing remains at the forefront of any objective examination you undertake. Did you achieve the desired outcomes you originally set out? Or at least making steps towards that outcome? In this example, the main questions you should be asking would revolve around “Is my child enjoying themselves?” and “Is my child getting better?”
If so, great! Keep going! If not, then why not? Does something need to change? It’s important to acknowledge that making bad decisions is normal and learning from mistakes sets you up in good stead for more important decisions down the line.
3. Be Calm Amongst the Chaos
The transition from child to adult can be a long and tumultuous experience. Now add a rigorous sporting schedule to that and you can begin to understand the journey your child will embark on in their quest to represent their country at the 2032 Olympics.
There comes a time in every athlete’s sporting life span where they question whether the consistent stress and expectations is worth it. This stress and expectation can often be heightened with adolescents, who haven’t yet developed the mechanisms to deal with such issues. As a parent, it should be your responsibility to help your child when these situations arise.
Many parents want their kids to do well and succeed in their chosen sport. However, often there becomes a point where parents begin to live vicariously through their child, basking in their child’s accomplishments as if it were their own. In such cases, the child is pressured to succeed to satisfy their parents self-image.
As a future Olympian, there will be many who attempt to ride the coattails of your child as they make their way up the athletic ladder. By remaining a calm presence throughout the journey, you offer an escape to your child from the mayhem of professional sport.
This post was written by Precision Athletica Strength & Conditioning Coach Jackson Privett, if you would like to know more or seek specific guidance from Jackson, you can contact him by email here.
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