Children and Sport Psychology By Marcos 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

Why Children Discontinue Participation In Sport. 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 / failure Underlying psychological motive for participation or withdrawal Perceived competence Goal Orientations Stress Response

Peer Relationships And Children’s Psychological Development 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

Dealing With Stressed Children Be Fun, Simple, Positive and Optimistic!

What Research says about Coaching Children Children have special coaching needs, much different from the needs of adults

Coaching Young Athletes 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