Netwoork Parents. Imagine taking care of the state-tournament-bound honors student who is sidelined due to prolonged concussion symptoms. When it comes to keeping our kids healthy, sports offer the best of all worlds.

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NSPCC: How parents can prepare and support talented young athletes

Building a support network for young athletes -

From student athletes to professional athletes, starting the conversation about mental health is essential. At the same time, young athletes face more pressure than older generations due to social media , increased academic demands , and the rising cost of college—which makes athletic scholarships even more important.

Mental health challenges are common in athletes. According to the National Institutes of Health , high school and college athletes face comparable risks of developing mental health issues with their peers.

Athletes are especially vulnerable to performance anxiety, burnout, and high levels of stress. At the same time, research suggests that head injuries, such as concussions, can increase risk factors for developing mental health problems. Physical health problems , conflicts with teammates, and athletic culture in general can also leave athletes vulnerable to mental health issues.

At the basic level, seemingly small issues like stress and anxiety can serve as a distraction during performance. These distractions can quickly become magnified—competitions feel extremely important to student-athletes, which can increase the pressure to perform.

For example, a baseball player might struggle to throw the ball, or a soccer player might miss an important kick. Other times, a distracted mind can be dangerous, such as a downhill skier gliding down a slope.

In any case, athletes deserve time to navigate their mental health and heal—even if it means sitting out for a few games. But unfortunately, this superhuman image leaves little room for vulnerability, let alone public discussions about mental health. In recent years, athletes have taken steps to combat stigma and end misconceptions about mental wellness, with more and more athletes opening up about their mental health.

This can be a powerful and preventative referral for young athletes, especially those exhibiting or prone to the risk factors noted above. Licensed mental health providers with a specialization in sport and performance psychology are uniquely trained to assess and treat both mental health and performance-related concerns.

An example of this type of provider is a sport psychologist, who is a licensed clinical or counseling psychologist with a specialization in sport and performance psychology. Alternatively, mental strength coaches or mental performance consultants vary widely in their educational backgrounds and training, are focused on identifying and treating performance-related concerns, not mental health concerns, and may refer to a licensed mental health provider if a mental health concern is identified.

Whether during the preparticipation physical exam, a well-child visit, or while taking care of an athlete with an injury or concussion, pediatricians are well positioned to screen for mental health concerns in athletes and help educate patients, families, and their community about some of the unique mental health considerations in athletes.

Sarah B. Kinsella, MD, CAQ, FAAP, is a member of the AAP Council on Sports Medicine and Fitness Executive Committee. She is an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Minnesota Medical School and practices sports medicine at M Health Fairview in Blaine, Minnesota.

Cynthia C. Swanlund, Psy. She is the assistant director of clinical operations in the Counseling and Wellness Center at Western Washington University and has a small private practice.

Kids frequently find themselves facing emotionally charged situations on the field or court. Some negative mental states in sports are inevitable. Or, maybe another player will foul your child or hog the ball. Stress, frustration, anxiety and even jealousy can all be normal responses to different parts of a sports game.

After each game, talk through plays or situations that made them feel bad. Try to attend as many practices and games as you can. Always ask questions after a game or practice, whether you were there or not.

What did you learn? What are you going to work on? Finally, always look for opportunities to give your child positive feedback — not just for winning, but also for trying. Encourage strong performance and hard work. Your child is putting themselves out there and earned praise will encourage them to keep at it.

Ultimately, kids should participate in sports because they want to, not because their parents or friends want them to.

Give your child the opportunity to make age-appropriate decisions when it comes to sports. At first, this may be as simple as giving them a choice between T-ball and soccer in the summer.

You can help ensure that your child sticks with it, and enjoys all the benefits — physical, social and emotional — of being active.

By following the right precautions, you can help your young athlete avoid injury. But some degree of risk is unavoidable. Learning how to handle bumps and bruises is yet another life lesson that sports provide.

Suppodt Our Annual Buildinh Report. The stress and suppott to perform can take a toll on athletes' mental health. By: Charlie Buildin Editorial Team. From student Building a support network for young athletes to professional athletes, suport Building a support network for young athletes conversation Herbal Fat Burner mental health is essential. At the same time, young athletes face more pressure than older generations due to social mediaincreased academic demandsand the rising cost of college—which makes athletic scholarships even more important. Mental health challenges are common in athletes. According to the National Institutes of Healthhigh school and college athletes face comparable risks of developing mental health issues with their peers.

Building a support network for young athletes -

And specializing in one sport too soon can be problematic. If your athlete is always using the same joints, muscles and ligaments, they may start to experience physical issues from overuse, and this can contribute to burnout.

Moderation is key. Kids look to adults for guidance on how to behave. This is especially true when it comes to sports. But if you or their coach starts yelling at the referee mid-game, your child will get a mixed message.

If another parent, coach or child behaves poorly, take it as a teaching opportunity. Explain to your child a better way to handle it.

And be mindful that with your behavior alone, you can encourage a lot of good things: integrity, respect, positivity and good sportsmanship.

Healthy competition is great. But everyone knows or has heard about a parent who made the sidelines awkward with how upset they got over what was meant to be a friendly game. Excessive competition takes the fun out of it. And if a kid feels too much pressure to perform, they may push themselves too hard, leading to burnout and injuries.

Instead of focusing solely on competition, try to foster a learning mindset. Losing reveals opportunities for growth, promotes adaptability and helps kids deal with emotions like frustration. So, shift the focus away from winning and losing to personal effort and improvement — and of course, fun. These are the things that ultimately motivate kids to stick with sports.

Passion, with the guidance of a parent or coach, can translate into qualities that will make your child better at sports.

Passion can also drive them to develop discipline, determination and perseverance — traits that will serve them well throughout their lives. rebecca life-in-sport. com HCPC Registered Sport and Exercise Psychologist working with Table Tennis Wales, Valleys Gymnastics Academy and MCCU Cardiff.

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