How to find their passion
For some die-hard athletes, a sport can become an all-encompassing love and, for a lucky few, a career path. But even if your kid doesn’t eat, sleep and dream lacrosse, bringing his A-game teaches him how to develop a passion: working hard and experiencing joy in an activity. Sadly, some kids have forgotten about this. “Sometimes teens are so consumed with competing, winning and getting into the right college that they disconnect from what they want to feel during activities,” says sports psychologist Caroline Silby, PhD, author of Games Girls Play: Understanding and Guiding Young Female Athletes and an advisor to elite athletes. By pouring themselves into their sport, they can figure out what they love about it and what parts they’re good at, which can help them identify future passions, like a job or a volunteer opportunity. Don’t worry if your kid isn’t in love with her sport at first. According to Dr. Silby, “Bringing her best self to an activity she isn’t drawn to can actually create passion.”
How to deal with difficult personalities
As frustrating as it is when your child’s coach hollers first and asks questions later, the experience can teach your kid to take criticism without taking it personally. “Athletes learn to consider the information presented as opposed to responding to the emotion with which it’s conveyed,” says Dr. Silby. “When athletes listen for the information, they can take positive action.” It also teaches teens to communicate respectfully, negotiate for what they need and focus on things they can control (like their own thoughts) rather than what they can’t. Since the future holds plenty of bad bosses and dictatorial teachers, knowing how to navigate tough personalities with aplomb helps student athletes excel down the road.
[button color=”#ffffff” background=”#003366″ size=”medium” target=”_blank” src=”http://www.drsilby.com/press_articles/8-Life-Lessons-from-the-Field-Woman’sDay.pdf”]READ ARTICLE[/button]
