Top 10 Warning Signs That a Parent Might be Damaging their Child’s Success in Sports

All too often, as a coach, I find myself having to step up and protect my athletes from overzealous parents that, although well intended, are damaging the ability of their children to establish their own goals and objectives in sports.  Instead, they are living vicariously through their children because of their own lack of success as an athlete, or because their own past successes are so hard to let go of that they want it to continue in their children.  Being the daughter of a professional, NFL athlete, I have experienced the high expectations that highly successful athletes can place on their children.  As parents, we want the best for our children.  However, we often don’t see the big picture because we are in the middle of the situation.  It is the job of the coach to remain outside the situation, and remain objective so that we can protect our athletes and teach them to live their own lives in sports rather than training to meet the goals of their parents.

As a parent there are several warning signs you can use to check yourself and make sure your motivations and encouragements in your children are where they need to be. 

1. Do you have a need to make excuses for your child when she performs below standard?
2. Do you feel compelled to watch every practice so that you know exactly how she is performing at all times in comparison to the rest of her teammates?
3. Do you brag or secretly gloat over good performances?
4. Do you feel let down after your child performs poorly?
5. Do you sometimes stress over your child’s sport more than your child?
6. Do you continually remind others that you do not push your child?
7. Do you offer coaching suggestions to your child or your child’s coach?
8. Do you blame others on your child’s failures?
9. Do you feel compelled to discuss your child’s practice with her?
10. Do you envy or feel jealous over other children’s success?

If you find yourself, as a parent, saying yes to more than 3 or 4 of the above questions, then it might be in your child’s best interest for you to re-evaluate the way you look at her and her sport.  Keep in mind that all of us are going to experience some emotional tugs at some point of another over our children and their performance, however, it is when it becomes an emotional struggle to remain objective and supportive that it begins to sabotage their ability to perform and do well.  Keep in mind that it is very easy to cross dangerous lines before you even realize there were lines at all.  Being aware of your child’s goals and your child’s wishes for themselves in their sport will ultimately help you as a parent to discover where you stand and what you role needs to be.  By knowing your child’shopes and dreams, it makes it easier to help them lead a richer life in their sport.

Controlling Your Fear and Becoming the Ideal Gymnast

Controlling Your Fear and Becoming the Ideal Gymnast

Me, Myself and I Activities for your child

In recognition of our ME, MYSELF and I preschool camp that begins on Monday, I wanted to offer some insight on things you can do with your preschooler to reinforce what they will learn at camp this week.  They will begin by learning about the heart on the first day, and follow with the brain and the 5 senses, the bones and finally the muscles.

Body Learning Activities you can do at home:
1.  Read the book, "What's Inside My Body."  DK Publishing.
2.  Have them construct a body out of play dough.  Does it stand up?  Is it strong?  Then have them construct it using toothpicks as bones inside the play dough.  How does it stand up now?  Good introduction to bones and how they make our body strong and able to move well.
3.  Talk with them about good nutrition during meal times this week.  Have them help you construct a menu of healthy foods for dinner one night.  Allow them to help you prepare the meal to learn about good and bad foods. 
4.  Talk about the senses.  Talk about "smells like," "feels like," "sounds like," and "looks like." This will help them to be aware of their senses throughout the week.

We will be doing all kinds of health and body activities throughout camp this week to give the preschoolers a basic understanding of health, body systems, nutrition and fitness.  By being involved and reinforcing what they are learning at camp this week, you will be able to help them retain the information they learn.  If your child is not attending camp this week, these activities will still be very beneficial in introducing basic body awareness to your preschooler.

Coach Ellen's Gymnastics Minute: Choosing the Right Gymnastics Gym

Coach Ellen's Gymnastics Minute: Choosing the Right Gymnastics Gym: "What should a parent look for in a facility? It is important when choosing a gym for your child that you recognize certain features that ..."

Choosing the Right Gymnastics Gym

What should a parent look for in a facility?

It is important when choosing a gym for your child that you recognize certain features that should be used in

determining which facility to attend with your child.

Important Information to know:

1. Do they cover the minimum liability insurance recommended by USA Gymnastics.

2. Do they maintain the USA Gymnastics Code of Ethics.

3. Are their coaches certified in the sport of gymnastics through USA Gymnastics.

4. Are the coach to student ratios within reasonable limits to create an effective learning environment.

5. Do they have a visitors viewing area to watch your child's class.

6. Do they have a clean, well lit facility with an emphasis on safety first.

7. Is their equipment in good condition and safe to use, with proper matting under and around each piece of

equipment.

8. Do they have a friendly, educated office manager willing to help you with administrative issues, registration and account management.

9. Do they have an emergency plan in place for fire, weather or injuries.

10. Are the gymnasts dressed properly, and do they appear to be having fun and learning.

Knowing the proper questions to ask when determining a facility for your child is the most important key to

choosing the right gym for your child. If the staff are unable to answer the above questions, then you may be better off moving on to the next choice rather than risk beginning in a gym that you will ultimately discover is not right for your child.

Another good article on choosing the right gym can be found here.

For more tips and information on gymnastics and sports training, visit www.moseleygymnastics.com

Tumbling...Where do I start?

The first and foremost consideration when deciding the proper route to take in order to learn to tumble is safety.  An athlete must realize that, as with any skill involving flight or movement, there is always the risk of injury.  You must make sure to consider the following areas of focus to begin your tumbling career.

1.  Appropriate Conditioning  -  You must be sure that your  body is conditioned to handle the pounding and pressure involved in tumbling.  You also need to consider your flexibility along with your strength.  Significant injuries can occur in the event that you are not both flexible and strong enough to execute a particular skill with precision and technique.  Be sure that any tumbling class that you involve yourself with includes an appropriate amount of strength and conditioning, as well as flexibility training along with the tumbling instruction itself.

2.  Proper Training – Starting with the basics is always the most prudent place to begin.  The proper training of handstands, cartwheels and other inverted, weight support skills is the best sports specific training that you can get in order to have a successful future in tumbling.  Even the most advanced tumbler still has to review and use basics on a regular basis to keep their body fit and prepared.

3.  Effective and Safe Environment -  Many people are able to perform tumbling and acrobatic movements in a variety of settings, however, when learning these skills it is necessary to be sure to use the proper matting and equipment to keep you as safe as possible during the learning process.  Additionally, it is important to be spotted and instructed by a trained and certified gymnastics professional.

4.  Progressions -   Following the proper order in learning skills is of utmost importance.  You cannot do a cartwheel before you can do a handstand or you cannot do a handstand forward roll before you learn a forward roll and a handstand apart from each other.  It is always necessary to follow your coach’s instructions when learning new skills, and trust them to teach you at the rate and time that fits your specific needs and abilities. 

5.  Core Strength -   Tumbling skills require an exceptional amount of abdominal strength in order to maintain the proper shapes and power during skill execution.  Without the proper core strength an athlete is likely to be too loose to properly and safely execute any inverted skill, and could very easily injure themselves.

Whatever your tumbling goals are, it is important to consider all the aspects of what tumbling involves and be patient during the process.  Many athletes can learn to tumble very quickly, however, some athletes take years to work up to advanced levels of tumbling skills.  Be sure that you continually examine your areas of weaknesses and work to improve them so that you can make the most out of each and every workout.  In most cases, your tumbling success is completely relative to your willingness to take corrections and work to improve them.