Stress is an unavoidable part of life. As adults we associate it with relationship issues, financial trouble, or parenting problems. Did you know that kids get stressed out too? They also have lots on their plates, from school to chores, and for many, sports!
While lots of kids play sports for exercise, or to make friends, many take the game much more seriously. These days youth sports is extremely competitive for everyone involved, from parents to coaches and of course the players. Kids can feel the most pressure to succeed all of the time, which can lead to mental and physical stress.
Some stress isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Feeling a little affirming pressure can be a positive. It can push kids to want to perform at their best. To remain focused and reach their goals. It’s normal to feel some duress when facing a tough opponent or trying to win a big game.
Oftentimes though, athletes take on more exigencies than necessary which can lead to exhaustion and ultimately keep them from achieving their objectives.
There are a few ways we can help our youth to keep stress at bay, and remain focused.
Stay Healthy
Eat right, take vitamins and supplements as needed, drink lots of water, and get plenty of rest. If the body is ready to put forth the efforts needed to play hard, the mind will follow.
Don’t Overschedule
If a child has too many commitments on his or her calendar, they may quickly be lead to exhaustion. Limiting the amount of sports played per season or per year if they are in travel or club, can help them to stay focused on excelling in one at a time. This will avoid having to juggle the different mindsets and each sport requires simultaneously.
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Barbara is the mom behind the blog. She began writing in 2012 as the creator of Hello Life, a craft & lifestyle blog. As life evolved, and her kids became more involved in sports, she aimed to create a site that would resonate with moms like her, and in 2017 Modern Sports Mom was born. Like many of today’s mamas, she loves being creative, cooking, and fashion, and when there are a few minutes to spare, a good book. A baseball and football mom, she is fueled by her strong faith, dedication to her family, and coffee. Lots and lots of coffee! Barbara lives in California with her husband, kids, dog, and cat.