We seem to be coming out of COVID-19 sports protocols and things are obviously changing. The past several months have brought some exciting sports opportunities for my daughters. My oldest plays basketball for Ithaca College and was able to play this season and the team won the Liberty League Chip and moved on to the tournament.
Your daughter wants to play a sport. You want to support her but you’re not sure what to do next. It’s important to note that historically, girls have played sports and boys have trained to play sports. Read that again and you’ll understand the discrepancy in injury rates between the sexes.
Across the United States, nearly 30 million children and teens participate in organized sports every year. Of them, almost 12 percent, or more than 3.5 million, suffer an injury that can cause time out from school, lost participation time, alter their physical development, and contribute to lifelong pain.
Sports, sports, sports. We cannot get enough. Our parents played, we played and still do, we are binge watching March Madness, MLB coming soon, NBA playoffs around the corner, the Masters—you know who you are, you’re a fan of athletics.
In athletics, it’s widely known that mindset is key to being a well-rounded, competitive athlete. People talk about mindset. They share mindset quotes. They say things like “get out of your head” and “find your zone.” You hear it, you believe it, you’re all in. Now you’re left wondering how to help your athlete develop a strong mental game.
We all know high school is stressful. If you’ve forgotten, think back to your freshman year. Add sports, competition and performance, and stress levels can skyrocket. Top that with COVID-19 restrictions, and it’s no wonder athletic kids today are stressed out.
Long before Caroline Burckle emerged as a world class swimmer and an Olympic medalist, the door to the mental side of competing was nudged open by her father during rides home from her youth swim meets. Like all young athletes, she had to learn how to navigate the sting of a disappointing performance…
The link between drugs and sports runs deep! Drugs and sports have been connected for about as long as sports have been played. This includes the whole array of painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs both prescribed by doctors and available over the counter.
Finally, we are starting to see some positive changes with school sports. Seasons have started and its very exciting for the players as well as parents. My oldest daughter has begun her college basketball season and is so happy to be back on the floor (she missed all of her freshman year due to COVID-19 restrictions).
Giving thanks isn’t tied to a single day or a season. Thanking the folks who help you day after day shouldn’t be an afterthought. The idea of giving thanks or practicing gratitude should be intentional—we should encourage our young athletes to think actively about doing it on a regular basis.
