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If your children were at physical risk from playing sports, would you take action to keep them safe? How would you respond if they were at emotional risk?
It was announced this week that some of the nation’s largest youth sports organizations are creating an alliance to address the dangers of concussions. The National Sports Concussion Coalition will share research and fund joint studies to educate athletes and their families.
The issue of concussions in youth sports is extremely important, as many young people have experienced traumatic brain injuries as a result. When children’s physical health is at risk, adults tend to take action for change. But what happens when children’s emotional health is at risk?
In Shame on Rutgers —Shame on Us, I wrote about the psychological cost of poor coaching and the toll it takes on today’s young athletes. While it is easy to understand why the culture of youth sports needs improvement, it is challenging to make change to a system that is more focused on physical health and winning than on the long-term emotional health of youth. But shouldn’t we demand an emphasis on whole child development?
When people talk about great coaches, they get excited. And with good reason. Coaches play a vital role in making sports experiences enjoyable and gratifying for youth. Not only do coaches enable kids to have fun and learn athletic skills but they also support healthy psychological development.
It’s the job of coaches to help individuals and teams win. But that is only part of their jobs. While they deservedly celebrate the winners, they also recognize the efforts of all children who work hard to be good in sports. Coaches’ help kids cope with disappointment, learn from mistakes, and make adjustments to strategies. These are all important aspects of developing initiative, an ability that children use in all aspects of life.
Researchers have studied the role of coaches in youth sports for many years. They have learned that coaches who give positive reinforcement, provide effective feedback, and foster a caring climate provide the best developmental outcomes for children.
Positive Reinforcement
Positive reinforcement is used by coaches to bring about desirable changes in behavior and to teach children to take responsibility for their actions. Coaches do this in a variety of subtle and overt ways. Sometimes it is a gesture, like a nod of a head, a smile, or a pat on the back that lets players know they performed well. Other times, it may be verbal praise for trying hard, executing a good strategy, or treating another player with respect. Praise is most effective when it makes players feel good about who they are on the inside. For example, even when children lose, they can still feel good about how hard they worked or how their abilities have grown.
Effective Feedback
Good coaches are always looking for teachable moments. They facilitate a growth mindset in their players, showing them that everyone can change and grow through learning. One technique used by coaches is to serve up a feedback sandwich. 1) They begin with identifying something positive. For example, “Rob, I really liked the way you pushed yourself during the game.” 2) They coach for improvement, being direct and firm but never demeaning. For example, “I’m going to work with you on how to kick the ball more successfully...." 3) They end with encouragement, stating a bright outlook for the future. This technique works well with children, particularly when coaches regularly monitor change and continue giving helpful feedback as improvement occurs.
Caring Climate
One of the most positive aspects of youth sports is that they have regular contact with a caring adult. When coaches truly care for their athletes, they form a bond between themselves and their team that give members a sense of belongingness. Research shows that when kids feel like they belong, their attendance, motivation, and retention increase. Elements of caring include listening, empathizing, respect, and acceptance — regardless of winning. Modeling these behaviors to children has been shown to foster their ability to care for themselves and others and also ignites a passion for learning.
When young people rate their participation in sports compared to other after-school activities, like arts, academic interests, community service, and faith-based activities, sports gets mixed grades. Why? Sports are often over-focused on winning and competition and under-focused on developing internal strengths like empathy, respect, and caring.
Adolescents score sports high in giving them opportunities to develop teamwork and social skills but low in opportunities to experience positive relationships with adults and peers or learning how to help others. Since studies maintain one of the most important experiences we can give kids is to help them become caring adults, it seems imperative that coaches focus on creating caring environments that teach respect and how to develop positive relationships. If young people perceive this caring environment, they are more likely to feel connected and demonstrate caring behaviors to others.
Coaches may have winning on their minds but it is those who nurture positive youth development that end up with children who succeed in life!
Please join me in supporting the creation of an alliance to address the emotional health of young athletes! The new coalition would share research and fund joint studies on how coaches contribute to the development of psychologically healthy young people. It would educate parents and coaches in ways that develop a positive sports culture in every community.
References
Fry, M. D., & Gano-Overway, L. A. (2010). Exploring the contribution of the caring climate to the youth sport experience. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 22, 294-304.
Hanson, D. (2008). The variety of organized youth activities in the United States and adolescents’ developmental experiences in them. In R. Bendit, & M. Hahn-Bleibtreu (Eds.), Youth transitions: Processes of social inclusion and patterns of vulnerability in a globalized world (pp. 151–162).Farmington Hills, MI: Ridgebrook
Zarrett, N., Fay, K., Li, Y., Carrano, J., Phelps, E., & Lerner, R. M. (2009). More than child’s play: Variable- and pattern-centered approaches for examining effects of sports participation on youth development. Developmental Psychology, 45(2), 368-382.
Marilyn Price-Mitchell, PhD, is a developmental psychologist working at the intersection of youth development, leadership, education, and civic engagement.
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©2013 Marilyn Price-Mitchell. All rights reserved. Please contact for permission to reprint.
