Children and SportPsychology

ByMarcos Bejarano

What motivates them? Why do they drop out of playing sports soon after

the age of 12?

To have fun

To improve skills

For the challenge of competition

To play as part of a team

To get exercise

•Not as good as I wanted to be.•Lack of fun.•Didn’t like the pressure.•Didn’t like the coach.•Bored.

WHY CHILDREN PARTICIPATE

WHY CHILDREN WITHDRAW

Learn new skills Fun Affiliation Thrills and excitement Exercise and fitness Competitive

challenging / winning

Failure to learn new skills

Lack of fun Lack of affiliation Lack of thrills and

excitement Lack of exercise and

fitness No challenge / failureUnderlying psychological motive for participation

or withdrawal•Perceived competence•Goal Orientations•Stress Response

The Positive Dimension

•Companionship•Enjoying being around ones friend•Help and guidance•Loyalty•Things in common•Emotional support•Absence of conflicts / Conflict resolution

The Negative Dimension

Verbal insults, arguments, and disagreements Unattractive personal qualities-such as being self centered Betrayal Lack of interaction between one another

Defeat. Children experience more state anxiety after losing than after winning.

Event Importance. The more importance placed on a contest, the more state anxiety experienced by the participants.

Sport type. Children in individual sports experience more state anxiety than children in team sports.

High Expectations Win at all costs attitude Parental Pressure Long repetitive practices

with very little variety Inconsistent coaching

practices

Overuse injuries from excessive practice

Excessive time demands High travel demands Love from others

displayed on the basis of winning and losing

Maladaptive perfectionism

Be Fun, Simple, Positive and Optimistic!

Children have special coaching needs, much different from the needs of adults

•Catch kids doing things right and give them plenty of praise and encouragement.•Give praise sincerely•Develop realistic expectations•Reward effort as much as outcome•Focus on teaching and practicing skills•Modify skills and activities•Create an environment that reduces the fear of trying new skills•Be enthusiastic

NEGATIVE: POSITIVE:

Emphasis on winning Perfect performance Overly competitive ego

– goal oriented environment

Unhealthy behaviors Disordered eating Overtraining Refusing to listen to

medical advice

Socializes Role models Providers and

Interpreters of their children’s experience

Goals are in relation to those adopted by parents

Positive parent influence

Encourage but don’t pressure your children Understand and be supportive Set limits on your child’s participation in sport Make sure you have a qualified coach to guide your child Keep winning in perspective Set realistic performance goals Help your child meet his/her responsibilities to the team and

coach Discipline appropriately and when necessary Turn your child over to the coach at practices and

games; don’t meddle or coach from the stands

Remain in the spectator area during games Don’t advise the coach on how to coach Don’t make derogatory remarks to coaches officials or

other team. Don’t try and coach your child during the game No Alcohol Cheer for your child’s team Support Control your emotions Help only when asked Thank coaches, officials and other volunteers who conduct

the event

Senior Night 2009

Tucson Defeats Ironwood Ridge 3-0 Tucson sweeps season series