As a society, we have normalized numerous unhealthy practices in sports for kids and teens. If we were to step back and view from afar, we might ask, what are we doing to the health and well-being of our future superstars!?
Convenience has overtaken eating healthy, and highly processed foods that are easy to hand our young athletes make up 70% of what our kids and teens consume. Concession stands, fast food visits after games, packaged foods, and sports and energy drinks add to the bombardment of unhealthy nutrition.
Half of young teens don’t get adequate sleep. Bedtimes disappear once kids reach middle school age, and sleep schedules become widely inconsistent. Sleep isn’t taken seriously by many families when, in reality, it’s vital for tweens and teens just as much as it is for a newborn baby. Sleep needs to be a priority like our lives depend on it—because it does!
Focusing on a single sport at a young age can increase the risk of overuse injuries, reduce overall athletic development, and increase the chances of burnout from your young athlete. Travel teams and kids getting nationally ranked as young as seven years old increase pressure on young athletes and take away from the joy of sports. 27% of kids are involved in only one sport.
High screen time, especially on social media, is negatively impacting our youth’s mental health, leading to issues like anxiety and depression. Phone use in the evening also steals young athlete’s quantity and quality of sleep. 90% of 13-year-olds have a phone, and 90% of teens are on social media.
Mental skills training is on the rise. Professional athletes understand the importance of mental strategies to help their performance, mainly when things go wrong and when things are going well. The norm at the youth and high school level is that these skills are brought up occasionally but not taught. Breathwork, visualization, and self-talk are just a few tools that can positively impact youth athlete’s performance.
Pressure from a parent or parents to succeed can overshadow sports’ enjoyment and developmental benefits. Parents yelling and screaming from the sidelines and bleachers as if their kid is in the Olympics is the norm at most youth sporting events. Putting down other players’ performance and talking about coaches and referees negatively puts a damper on the game. Save it for when your child makes the pros. In the meantime, your job is to be your child’s biggest supporter.