Maintaining Self While Raising an Athlete Expansion

Parental involvement in youth sports plays a crucial role in shaping an athlete’s experience and development. Positive involvement — marked by support, praise, and understanding —leads to favorable outcomes, whereas negative involvement characterized by pressure and high-performance expectations can hinder motivation. Striking a balance with moderate parental involvement is essential for both athlete autonomy and support.

As someone with over 20 years of experience working with athletes, parents, and coaches, I have observed significant patterns in how parenting behaviors affect athletic growth. Maintaining a sense of self while raising youth athletes yields several benefits, including avoiding vicarious living, fostering a healthy parent-child dynamic, and reducing pressure on the child.

To achieve this balance, parents can employ several strategies.

Creating an open dialogue fosters a safe space for children to discuss their goals while encouraging them to express themselves. Additionally, celebrating their efforts rather than solely their victories, cultivates a positive growth mindset. Instead of fixing problems for them, parents should prioritize listening, empowering their children to develop problem-solving skills.

Ultimately, maintaining one’s identity and interests helps parents model healthy behaviors, making them more effective supporters and role models in their children’s athletic pursuits.

Written on behalf of the Mayors Wellness Campaign Advisory Committee of the Chathams, by Traci Standard, Masters in Sport Psychology
Athlete Performance and Health Coach
ACE Fitness Professional
Aspire Performance Studio –
https://www.aspireperformance.studio/about

Resources:
Canadian Academy of Sports and Exercise. Parenting in Youth Sports-the Good, the Not So Good, and the Ugly Frontiers. The Role of Parents in the Motivation of Young Athletes: A Systematic Review