Unlocking Holistic Wellness in Competitive Youth Sports
Unlocking Holistic Wellness in Competitive Youth Sports
In the high-pressure world of competitive youth sports, the physical demands are evident, but there's a hidden battle that rages within young athletes—a battle of the mind. The way they talk to themselves would shock most onlookers. If they were to speak to others in the same manner they address themselves, they'd face consequences like being canceled, expelled from school, or labeled as bullies.
The internal dialogue of young athletes is often far from friendly. They've never been equipped with the skill set to manage this chatter and turn it into a positive force. Instead, it becomes an unwanted companion, spewing hate, vitriol, and toxicity at them.
The Negative Impact of Coaches
As if the internal struggle wasn't enough, young athletes play in competitive programs where they often encounter less-than-positive language from coaches. Reflecting on my own youth coaching experience, I’ve been guilty of this as well. This negative feedback gets recorded by their mind chatter and echoed back to them in a negative news feed filled with self-destructive beliefs.
Parental Pressure
If an athlete's performance wanes, they may also have parents who critique their technique or performances. This adds yet another layer of pressure and negativity to an already challenging situation.
The Missing Advocate
What young athletes often lack is an advocate, a mental skills coach of sorts—someone to help them navigate the challenges of sports performance, stress, and pressure. They need someone to teach them how to turn their inner chatter into an ally rather than an enemy. They need guidance on how to decompress, rest, and recover mentally, essential for performance improvement. Yet, instead of learning these vital mental skills, many young athletes end up on medications to cope with the pressure of what is supposed to be a sport that fulfills them.
The Medication Route
Imagine, for a moment, the medications a young athlete might be on: attention-related meds, anxiety meds, sleep meds, depression meds... and that's just a fraction. When athletes make it to college team, they often face a colder and less-than-ideal wellness environment. Their entire life gets scrutinized, sometimes by well-intentioned coaches, and other times by coaches who prioritize winning over their athletes' well-being. Athletes become tools for coaches to advance careers - their athlete’s well-being often takes a back seat. If they’ve never learning the skills necessary to navigate these challenging situations, they are not able to thrive. They are far from family, isolated, confused, and desperate to perform. We should not be surprised they turn to medications.
A Dark Path
All of these factors contribute to a pressure-cooker environment for young athletes. Their inner chatter becomes increasingly negative as they climb the ranks. They face constant criticism from within, from coaches, from family, and from friends. Over time, they might lose their sense of self, numbed by medications and self-erected walls for self-preservation.
A Way Out
Mental skills training isn't just about improving performance; it's about improving the holistic wellness and life satisfaction of athletes. It helps them learn how to be courageous in sports, turn their inner chatter into a partner in their journey, and build a foundation for rest, recovery, and overall well-being.
The Road to Holistic Wellness
So, why should young athletes seek out and hire a mental skills coach? It's not just about winning games; it's about living a fulfilling life. The universe is designed for us to thrive, and no one should have to endure it in fear, scarcity of hope, or anguish.
Holistic wellness in competitive youth sports is a path to personal growth, resilience, and a positive relationship with the self. It's about helping young athletes unleash their potential and enjoy their sports journey to the fullest.
