7 Tips for post-season and individual competition!

This one's for my parents and athletes!

As postseason events approach, including individual competitions in sports such as swimming, track, fencing, gymnastics, and others, many of you are gearing up for the challenges ahead.

Parents often reach out seeking advice on how to support their children amidst the heightened pressure of these crucial moments. Here are some tips to assist your athletes as they strive for success during postseason play, with the ultimate aim of positioning them for victory:

🚀 Protect their space! Encourage them to stay away from drama or negativity as much as possible. If something is especially triggering or causing stress, have them take a break from that person or thing. Keep things positive and supportive.

🚀 Don't be afraid to delete or hide any negative social media. You want them to be mindful of what they are consuming; social media, TV, you tube, etc. Consumption is important and what they are watching and looking at can affect their mindset.

🚀 REST! It's OK to be boring right now. My son has a big track meet tomorrow and we had a huge snowstorm today. Instead of sledding with his friends, he's resting and not risking getting hurt. Smart choice. Plenty of time to do fun things!

🚀 Tell them not to panic if they have a bad practice leading up to a competition. That one practice does not define them as an athlete or a competitor. Nor does it predict what will happen in the future.

🚀 If they find themselves drifting off into the future, trying to predict what will happen, tell them its normal! BUT, they need to get back to the present moment. Focusing on the outcome will only make them more nervous. Focus on what they can CONTROL.

🚀 Sleep! Help them organize their day so that they can get everything done in time to allow them to go to bed at a reasonable hour. Making sleep a priority IS a priority!

🚀 Tell them its ok to give their mind a break. Thinking about your sport 24/7 can be draining! They don't have to think about their sport all the time to be good at it. Give them permission to think about something else; go out with friends, have a laugh, try and relax.

🚀BONUS: Remember the hard work they have done all season is adding up to this moment. Don't just focus on the last few weeks, be grateful for the hard work they have done to get to this point.

Parents, employ these tactics to prepare your child for playoffs or end-of-season competitions.

Cheering for your team from the sidelines,

Coach Leah