Lots of children want to pursue a career in sports. They may have big sporting aspirations that involve playing in the Super Bowl or being signed by their favorite professional basketball team.
Breaking into the sports industry is not easy and there is strong competition for professional athlete jobs. With that in mind, it’s a good idea to encourage your child to have a backup plan if their sporting career doesn’t go to plan.
That being said, you should support your child’s dreams and help them plan for future success.
Here are some of the top ways to support your child’s sporting career.
Make time for their training schedule
Becoming a professional athlete takes years of training, hard work, and dedication. If your child is committed to pursuing a career in sports, then you should support and encourage their goals.
Your child will likely have several training sessions a week and you should make time for their training schedule. Understandably, busy working parents are unlikely to be able to attend every training session and competition.
However, you should try to be there whenever possible to provide support and encouragement. Make an effort to be present at big events like championship games. This will provide much-needed encouragement and help your child grow and succeed in sports.
Explore sports scholarships
Paying for a college education can be a challenge and many parents struggle to afford school fees. Fortunately, there is a fantastic selection of sports scholarships that can provide financial support to young athletes while they study at college.
For instance, ASM sports scholarships saved students an average of $37,000 per year in 2019. These grants allow students from low-income families to attend college and gain higher qualifications.
On top of financial support, sports scholarships also give students access to high-quality coaches and facilities that will develop their sporting skills and help them get noticed by scouts and sporting professionals.
Prepare nutritious meals
Many studies have found a connection between nutrition and athletic performance. Eating a healthy diet will ensure that your child has all of the nutrients and minerals that they need to support healthy growth and development.
If your child is following an intensive training schedule, then you must increase their calorie intake accordingly. For instance, a child who is training several times a week will require more calories in their daily diet than a child who does not play sports.
Experts recommend that a child athlete should eat a daily diet that includes healthy fats, whole grain carbohydrates, lean protein, and fruit and vegetables. Encourage your child to develop healthy eating habits and avoid processed junk food.
Don’t do everything for them
You should avoid doing everything for your child. Instead, teach them the importance of time management and organization by giving them responsibilities and chores.
For instance, put them in charge of packing and unpacking their sports bag for training or washing their sports clothes. Teach your child to take control of their sports training and future career.
Final Thoughts
Keeping these tips in mind, you should be able to healthily support your child’s sports career – whether they are just starting out or are experienced.
