There are a lot of bloopers and blunders at youth sporting events that later on can be enjoyed in a light-hearted way.

5 signs of burnout:

• Flat affect or general malaise
• Low motivation (especially toward sports)
• Unusually low level of pride after athletic accomplishments
• Anti-social behavior
• Unusual anger and frustration

If you are currently witnessing these symptoms
in your child, he or she may need a mini-break from sports.



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I would like to encourage all parents to stop and think about the process of youth sports, instead of just the final scores of games. Think about the awesome opportunities you have as a parent to capture those teachable moments and build strong relationships with your child through the athletic experience--regardless of your child's athletic talent.

Sadly, we often get caught up in the final outcome of a game rather than take time to acknowledge all the little life skills and lessons that kids experience by playing sports. The following is a list of reminders and tips to consider so your family can maximize the youth athletic experience.

• Help your child be part of the solution. Often, parents ask me about the best way to teach their child to stay motivated, improve focus, or develop the confidence needed to be successful in athletics. My advice? Rather than ask me--ask your child! In my experience, wonderful answers often come about by engaging in positive dialogue with kids. I find this to be especially true when it comes to athletics. Ask your child to identify another kid on the team who is more motivated or plays better in the clutch, then listen to her observations. Try to use her responses in your own unique game plan for future improvement whenever possible.

• Reinforce the little things. Sure, it's easy to praise your child when he hits a homerun or scores the winning touchdown, but there are lots of other important things your child is probably doing on the field that routinely go unnoticed. How do you respond when he runs on and off the field (shows hustle)? When he dives after a ball even if he misses it (plays hard)? Or when he picks up teammates when times are tough (sportsmanship)?

• Discuss how much your child is learning through sports. Rather than focus on the score, try to talk to your child about the lessons she has learned by competing in sports. In some cases, you may need to help her see the big picture when it comes to these invaluable skills, such as helping her identify the value of patience by pointing out how she worked the pitcher in a game of softball. That patience may pay big dividends later when she is frustrated with a school project.

• Laugh! It seems we take youth sports far too seriously at times. With year-round sports and travel leagues you may sometimes wonder if we are losing the fun aspect of youth sports. There are a lot of bloopers and blunders at youth sporting events that later on can be enjoyed in a light-hearted way.

• Build confidence in your child. Have fun and take pictures, video, or build a personal webpage for your child. You can increase his self-esteem and confidence by highlighting some of his best plays and moments.

• Talk about the entire game, not just your child's part (especially important if she had a bad game). Discuss some of the good and bad things the team did, as well as how the team can improve for upcoming games. Not only will this diffuse a potentially upsetting situation for your child, it will also emphasize the importance of teamwork.

Your child's time in youth sports will go by before you know it, but the lessons learned can last a lifetime. Be sure to do your part and make the most of this wonderful opportunity.