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Hosted by Regis Tremblay
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Many children quit playing sports because they don't like the pressure to perform. Countless others continue playing, but are never able to reach their potential. They tell us that hypercompetitive parents and over-the-top coaches often place too much pressure on them. Parents and coaches are often unaware of the negative consequences of their well-intentioned actions and words. Three elite-level athletes will share their gripping stories to help us become more aware of the devastating effects pressure and fear can have on young athletes and their performance. Children of all ages need and look for encouragement and support from parents, teachers, and coaches. When they think they are not pleasing these important adults they instinctively fear they are not loved and not valued. What parents, teachers, and coaches believe is encouragement and motivation often is interpreted as just the opposite. Feelings of self-worth and self-confidence are questioned and fear takes over. The consequences are almost always negative. Many young athletes suffer from depression. This in turn makes it impossible to perform at their best, which causes more pressure, fear, and lack of confidence. Some quit as soon as they can bring themselves to tell their parents. Others continue, but never regain the excitement, joy, and passion of their youth. We'll hear the compelling stories of three elite-level athletes. Dr. Doug Brown will share how insensitive coaches who used a negative approach caused him to lose his role as the starting catcher on his baseball team because he couldn't throw the ball back to the pitcher. Lauren Grousd was a promising gymnast and an elite soccer player with international experience. She will tell how she lost her love to play after being recruited to play at an exclusive Division III school, and then quit playing after her freshman year. We will also hear how Ashley "the swimmer" crashed and burned after being ranked the #1 female swimmer in her state, and after wining three gold medals in her state high school competition as a sophomore. We'll hear about the anger and depression that followed, and how she pulled her self out of it, eventually receiving a full-ride to a Division I University, where she is "back to her old self" and enjoying life again. We will also be joined in studio by Kerry Kertes a former scholarship swimmer in college, and now a teacher and swim coach at Cape Elizabeth High School. He also coaches a masters swim program at the Cape Elizabeth Community Pool. Burnout, kids quitting because play stops being fun, depression, and under-achievement can all be avoided if parents were better informed, coaches were better prepared, and youth programs were founded upon Fair Play and a Kids First philosophy.
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Purchase Reclaiming The Timeless Value of Sport and Play A new book by Regis Tremblay |
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You can help support the show by making a tax-deductible contribution to:
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© Copyright 2004 Kids First In Sports, Health, and Education |
