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My teenage son wants to quit all sports crack#
I mean, who can blame a parent for encouraging their child to suck it up ’til the end when they just laid down $400 for their son or daughter to try their hand at golf, which included the purchase of golf clubs, a golf bag, and the necessary clothes, only to find out three weeks later that it’s “just not their thing” and they’d like to throw in the towel.īut what about the teen who’s invested years of time, energy and money into his/ her sport or passion? What about all the blood, sweat and so many tears that went into becoming profoundly good at what they set their mind to? What about all the crack of dawn and late-night practices they had to endure or how many social events they had to decline or all the sacrifices they (and their family) had to make in their lives so they could focus on becoming “the best.” The decision to see a season or a class through to the end sounds completely reasonable for a lot of parents considering the high cost of activities, sports equipment, etc. Looking back, how we ever reached a point that doing something that was considered mentally tortuous would ever be good for us or make us strong, I don’t know… Those who stuck it out were told not to complain, that it was good for them, that they’d develop resilience and become stronger as a result. If what you signed up for was taking a serious toll on your mental health… too bad.
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If it was too difficult to juggle with your homework load… too bad. You muddled through the last day of the season or the last day of class or that final game. Regardless of the circumstances, you sucked it up. Like so many others from my generation, I grew up believing you shouldn’t quit. However, as a mom whose daughter recently faced the difficult decision to either stick it out or walk away from an all-consuming passion she’s had for nearly a decade, I find myself looking at Olympic athletes with a more understanding, tender, compassionate heart. We may never agree since it’s so deeply personal. Those who think an athlete’s decision to remove themselves from a sport they have worked tirelessly for (one that also consumed the better part of their lives) is weak and perhaps even a copout, and those who think it shows utmost courage and strength to walk away for the sake of their mental health. As a society, we seem to be in the midst of a great divide.
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Written by: Ali Flynn Throughout the Winter Olympics, we all heard about the growing concern for the athletes’ mental health. Parents also might weave life lessons about commitment into the conversation, explaining that if the child is still not enjoying the sport at season's end, then they need not necessarily return for the next season.This post: When Your Teen Wants to Quit a Sport: A Lesson from Olympic Athletes However, being by teammates or coaches may call for a different response from the parents.īarring physical or emotional danger, parents should encourage their children to persist, as persistence and overcoming adversity are among the greatest life lessons available through sports. A bad day or disappointing performance can easily pass, with a new day bringing returned enthusiasm. First, parents should converse with their kids to identify the reasons for wanting to quit. Gould suggests that if a child wants to quit sports, the parents should not panic. Tennis Association, and athletes of all ages and skill levels. He conducts research on the psychological foundations of coaching and has consulted for the U.S. Dan Gould, a PCA National Advisory Board Member and Director of Michigan State’s Institute for the Study of Youth Sports, is renowned for his work in sport psychology and mental training for athletic competition.