High-Performance Youth Playbook: Guiding Your FitTeen Athlete to Success (and Sanity!)

Congratulations! Your teen is a dedicated, talented athlete striving for excellence. You're likely beaming with pride (and maybe a little overwhelmed!) as you navigate the world of high-performance youth sports. It's an incredible journey, filled with triumphs and challenges, and your role as a parent is more crucial than ever.

But let's be honest, parenting a high-performance athlete isn't always a walk in the park. It's demanding, time-consuming, and can sometimes feel like a rollercoaster of emotions. This guide is your playbook – offering insights and practical tips to help you support your FitTeen athlete to reach their potential, all while nurturing their well-being and your own sanity.

Understanding the High-Performance Landscape:

First, let's acknowledge what "high-performance" really means. It's beyond just playing for fun. It's:

• Intense Training Schedules: Multiple sessions a week, early mornings, late nights, and weekend commitments.

• Competitive Pressure: Striving for wins, personal bests, and potentially scholarships or professional aspirations.

• Significant Time & Financial Commitment: Travel, equipment, coaching, and specialized programs can be demanding.

• Emotional Ups & Downs: Dealing with wins, losses, injuries, and the pressures of competition.

Your Role: More Than Just a Cheerleader (But Cheerleading is Important Too!)

As a parent of a high-performance athlete, your role evolves beyond simply driving to practice and packing snacks. You become a multifaceted support system. Here's how to play your position effectively:

1. The Emotional Anchor: Unconditional Love and Support

• Focus on Effort, Not Just Outcomes: Praise their hard work, dedication, and perseverance, regardless of wins or losses. "I'm so proud of how hard you worked today" is far more impactful than "Why didn't you score?"

• Be a Listener, Not a Critic: Create a safe space for them to vent, share frustrations, and celebrate successes without judgment. Listen actively and empathetically.

• Validate Their Feelings: High-performance sport is emotionally demanding. Acknowledge their stress, disappointment, and anxieties. "It's okay to feel frustrated after a tough game."

• Unconditional Love, Always: Remind them that your love and support are not dependent on their athletic performance. They are loved for who they are, not just what they achieve.

  
  

2. The Practical Powerhouse: Logistics and Organisation

• Streamline Schedules: Help them manage their time effectively between school, training, rest, and social life. Utilise calendars, planners, and communication apps.

• Fuel Their Performance: Ensure they are eating nutritious meals and staying hydrated. Work with them to understand their dietary needs as athletes.

• Prioritise Rest and Recovery: Overtraining is a real risk. Help them understand the importance of sleep, rest days, and recovery strategies like stretching and active recovery.

• Manage Travel and Logistics: Be the organised force behind travel arrangements, packing lists, and ensuring they have everything they need for training and competitions.

  
  

3. The Advocate and Communicator: Healthy Boundaries and Open Dialogue

• Be a Liaison (When Necessary): While empowering your teen's independence is crucial, you can advocate for them when needed. This might involve communicating with coaches about concerns or scheduling issues.

• Foster Open Communication: Encourage open and honest communication between your teen, their coaches, and themselves. Teach them how to express their needs and concerns respectfully.

• Help Set Realistic Goals: Work together to set achievable and progressive goals, focusing on personal growth and development, not just external pressures.

• Recognise and Address Burnout: Be vigilant for signs of burnout, such as decreased enthusiasm, fatigue, irritability, and declining performance. Encourage breaks, fun activities outside of sport, and potentially professional support if needed.

  
  

4. The Role Model: Healthy Perspective and Balance

• Emphasise Life Skills Beyond Sport: Help them see the bigger picture. Sport is a fantastic teacher of discipline, teamwork, and resilience, but it's not everything. Encourage other interests and academic pursuits.

• Model Healthy Habits: Demonstrate the importance of physical activity, healthy eating, and stress management in your own life.

• Celebrate the Joy of Sport: Remind them (and yourself!) why they started playing in the first place – for the love of the game, the camaraderie, and the fun!

• Perspective is Key: Help them navigate wins and losses with perspective. It's just one game, one competition in a long journey.

High Performance Youth selected to play for Maori age representative rugby league

Being the parent of a high-performance athlete is an amazing privilege and adventure. By taking on the role of a supportive, balanced, and emotionally intelligent parent, you can assist your FitTeen athlete in excelling both in their sport and in life, while also creating enduring positive memories for your whole family. Enjoy the journey!