Helping your kid develop a good work ethic

By Jack Perconte, McClatchy-Tribune

This is a frequent request I receive from parents, “Would you make him a major leaguer?” My response is usually something along the lines of, “Only he can do that, but I will try to instill the correct fundamentals and impress upon him the importance of a great work ethic.”

To avoid having regrets later and to reach one’s potential, a great work ethic is mandatory in sports. Playing youth sports is a great avenue for parents to teach their kids the importance of a good work ethic.

Legendary coach John Wooden said “Many athletes have tremendous God-given gifts … Who are these individuals? You have never heard of them and you never will.”

There are a lot of gifted...

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How young is too young to hit the slopes?

By Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman

Bogus Basin ski school director Jamie Zolber has seen it all before — this past Monday, actually.

The wind was blowing like mad. A family was up on the mountain with a child who was 2, maybe 2-½ years old, on skis.

“The kid was just wailing, crying,” Zolber says. “And they were just dragging him around the flats. … The kid was just not having any of it. They were forcing him.”

“I was (thinking), like, take him inside,” Zolber says. “Make sure he has a good day.”

Even parents with the best intentions sometimes struggle when introducing winter sports to young children.

We’ve all marveled at the impossibly tiny tot flying down a run or hitting...

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When should athletes specialize in a sport?

By Jack Perconte, McClatchy-Tribune

I received a call one day from my son’s basketball coach, “Mr. Perconte, your son walked in to tryouts today and asked me to cut him from the team,” he said. “He doesn’t want to hurt your feelings but he doesn’t want to play anymore,” he proceeded to say. “I will talk to him, but if he truly does not want to play, then he is done,” I responded.

I always knew that basketball was not his favorite sport but I didn’t expect him to take this tactic. It definitely drove home the point about how much kids want to please their parents and what measures they might take to avoid hurting their parents’ feelings. After talking to my son, he just wanted to concentrate on...

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Ten tips to help youth survive a frustrating sports season

By Jack Perconte, McClatchy-Tribune

Don’t be fooled by the title of this article because it could easily have been titled, “10 tips to help parents survive their child’s tough season.”

Failure and disappointments for young athletes often affects parents more than kids. Most kids are more resilient than they are given credit for and it is their parents’ reactions to their performances that cause tension in players and families.

Because of the difficulty of all sports, great patience is required by all during a season and from year to year. Disappointment and frustration can easily occur in sports and without understanding and guidance by a player’s parents, their season or career can be ruined when people panic at...

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Signs for parents that you might be pushing your child too much in sports

By Jack Perconte, McClatchy-Tribune

A very common phrase I hear from parents is “We don’t push him/her.” Often, this serves as a red flag to me that they brought the word “push” up in the first place. After working with these young players, I often notice that there is definitely an extra amount of parental pressure on them.

Pushing is another of those terms we use around sports that doesn’t have a set meaning. Additionally, what one considers pushing is just considered “encouragement” by another. Harping on kids about their play and effort to the point where kids obviously become angry or disenchanted is pushing. Giving kids the impression that they never perform quite well enough and do not meet your expectations...

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Kids’ team parties are too expensive

By Marla Jo Fisher, The Orange County Register

Dear Team Mom,

I’m just wondering: Why did you have to pick that expensive place for my son’s end-of-season soccer party? That, of course, is on top of the money I had to contribute for the coach’s gifts.

I appreciate the effort you have put into the season and the work you’ve done without pay for the boys. And certainly we want the coaches to be thanked for their service with a nice signed photo, handwritten cards or something meaningful and heart-felt.

But apparently you and other team moms who are lucky enough to have jobs, or who have the luxury of staying home while your husbands work, seem to be unaware that we have 10 percent unemployment in this country! It’s even...

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Eight tips for motivating young athletes

McClatchy-Tribune

A big concern of parents and coaches is that their players are not motivated. Rarely does trying to motivate youth with yelling, threatening or negativity work to bring on increased motivation. Those methods usually backfire, serving only to create tension and alienate kids from wanting to play. Adults of unmotivated kids should not give up hope.

Parents who remain positive with their words, actions, and display patience with their kids have the best chance of seeing their kids’ motivation improve. Kids who have success usually become motivated, but success is fleeting and does not come right away for many. Until success comes, parents and coaches will inspire players with their attention, approval and knowledge. Parents, who stay attentive...

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Helping young athletes overcome fear of injury

By Jack Perconte, McClatchy-Tribune

One of the great things about youth sports is the opportunity for adults to teach life lessons that will be valuable long after their kids’ playing days end. One of these lessons is the ability to overcome fears that arise in the competitive world of athletics. The fear of injury is one of those fears.

It is important that coaches have patience with players who have a high degree of fear so they don’t create tension in their relationship with the player and/or make the situation worse. Saying things like “There’s nothing to be scared of” is not believable to these players. Additionally, saying things like “Don’t be a baby” are unacceptable and a source of tension between youth and...

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Kids, sports, stress: Watch for overtraining and burnout

By Niesha Lofing, McClatchy Newspapers

Summer would seem like the perfect time of year for young athletes to relax, but some view it as an opportunity to practice and play sports without time constraints.

Doctors warn it’s also the season when overtraining injuries tend to spike.

Overuse injuries and burnout are growing problems among the estimated 30 million to 45 million athletes ages 6 to 18, according to a clinical report published in 2007 in the journal Pediatrics.

Up to 50 percent of injuries seen by pediatric sports medicine doctors are related to overuse, the report states.

Children who play the same sport year-round often suffer repetitive motion injuries, said Dr. Stephen Howell, an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine...

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Pay-to-play sports becoming the norm in more public schools

Soccer is good exercise, good for developing coordination and just good fun, but if David Haase wants his sixth-grader to play it at school, he’ll have to come up with $135 to make it happen.

What will he get for his money? The use of a uniform for 11-year-old Morgan, and the privilege for her to attend practice. He must also supply a ball, cleats and shin guards if she wants to join the team at Karns Middle School in Knoxville, Tenn.

“It may get expensive, but I would rather give up something myself than I would give up something for our child,” he said. “Those school activities are so important to a child’s growth.”

While parents have always had to pay for private piano lessons and cough up Little League fees, such play-to-participate and...

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