MENTAL ASPECTS Written by Mitchell Greene, Ph.D.
As parents of young triathletes, your responsibility is to help preserve your child’s sense of wonderment and enthusiasm about triathlon for as long as possible. The chance to participate in three events (and two transitions) can give a child a unique sense of accomplishment that cannot quite be duplicated through any other athletic experience. The sobering evidence, however, is that many children soon flame out and leave the sport altogether, regarding it as more of a burden than a fun hobby. This is especially true for sports such as triathlon, tennis and golf, in which there may be team elements, but athletes compete mainly as individuals.
The fact that 70 percent of kids quit their sport
by the time they reach their 13th birthday should convince parents of tri-kids that the sport is best viewed as a vehicle to teach lessons about setting goals, improving technique, living healthier and trying your best. Sport parents who overlook the big picture and overly focus on immediate results may quickly find that their children want to move on to something else. Wise sport parents foster a supportive, low pressure atmosphere in which their child can develop a good work ethic as well as skills in each of the three disciplines of triathlon. That approach works well for a child whether they ultimately stick with triathlon, or move on to something that feels like a better “fit” for them.
Even with the best intentions, any sport parent can unwittingly communicate a message that shows they have lost sight of the larger purpose
USA TRIATHLON YOUTH GUIDE 13
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