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Adult Supervision Does not Necessarily Assure Safety in the Weight Room
Many times I’ve remained an advocate supporting weight training for our young population. Research has suggested over and over the positive effects weight training offers. It improves strength, reduces body fat enhances self-esteem and improves self-confidence. Contrary to popular belief, if training properly, research has not supported the myth, “weight training will adversely effect one’s growth.” In fact, it does support the notion that when done properly, it enhances skeletal maturation and growth.
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How to support your child athlete without too much pressure: 7 easy steps
(02/10/2004)
When your son or daughter picks up that bat and glove or puts on those soccer cleats, or basketball shoes, you, as a parent, take on a new role: the parent of an athlete. It can be a scary hat to wear. You’ve heard the horror stories
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Bullying on the Sports Field... What is It?
(Aug. 8, 2004)
Fair Play vs. Foul Play. Appropriate Behavior vs. Inappropriate Behavior. Youth. Schools. Camps. Sports. What’s going on?
BULLYING! And it’s a big problem!
Recall your own school, camp or sports memories and, chances are, a bullying incident is part of them.
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Do You Really Want to Know?
The media is oh so eager to learn the identity of those who are Steroid users. Eager to be the first to print the Breaking News story: “Joe Homerun Hitter
found guilty of steroid use.”
Daily, there is the media push and the need to know who these players are.
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Who Says Kids Shouldn't lift Weights?
(07/10/2004)
Forever and a day we have been told “children should not lift weights. Lifting weights will damage growing bones; it will stunt the growth of a child.” If children are allowed to lift weights, they will get hurt. Well, guess what? That’s just not true.
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A Hit For All
(03/22/2004)
This week a local Little League hit a Home Run. By unanimous vote, board members of the New City Little League (Rockland County, New York) voted to institute a Continuous Batting Order into its boys (10-12 year olds) major league division.
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The psychology of a winner
(12/27/04)
At a certain level of professional competition, the skill difference in many top athletes becomes negligible. What is it, then, that separates the number one tennis player from the number fifteen? Why does the number ninety-ninth ranked tennis player double-fault at match point? In basketball, why do some players consistently hit the free throw when the game is on the line, and why do some consistently choke? Top-level players relate feeling calm, energized and positive during performances. This is “the zone,” that all athletes aspire to. Why do some players reach “the zone” while others with equal or even greater talent do not?
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Back Pain, a huge economic and medical burden
(Dec 29, 2003)
The economic impact for the diagnosis and treatment of Back Pain surpasses 100 billion dollars annually. Fortunately, maintaining a regular exercise program, at a minimum of three sessions/week, for 30-60 minutes/session can help to alleviate most symptoms of back pain.
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Ephedra is Banned, but will it go away?
(Dec 31, 2003)
Kudos to the United States Government for its stand and ban of the dietary supplement, Ephedra. This seemingly innocuous, over the counter, dietary weight loss aid has been linked to at least 155 deaths and there are over 16,00 reports of people suffering adverse effects from it.
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My New Year's Resolution
(Jan 03, 2004)
The Holiday Season is just behind us, 2004 is here.
Hopefully, you all enjoyed a healthy and happy year in 2003, which will continue into 2004. Like many rituals in life, the end of year holiday season reminds us of "resolution's and promises" we make to ourselves.
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How to support your child athlete without too much pressure: 7 easy steps
(02/10/2004)
When your son or daughter picks up that bat and glove or puts on those soccer cleats, or basketball shoes, you, as a parent, take on a new role: the parent of an athlete. It can be a scary hat to wear. You’ve heard the horror stories
Read More -->
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How to support your child athlete without too much pressure: 7 easy steps
(02/10/2004) |
When your son or daughter picks up that bat and glove or puts on those soccer cleats, or basketball shoes, you, as a parent, take on a new role: the parent of an athlete. It can be a scary hat to wear. You’ve heard the horror stories: Parents fighting at little league games, kids with stomachaches, eating disorders, or budding inferiority complexes because they feel too pressured to “be the best”. If you put too much pressure on your children, then they’ll resent you, fear they’re disappointing you and blame themselves for not fulfilling your dreams for them. But if you don’t encourage and cheer for them then you will be communicating that this aspect of their lives is unimportant to you. So what’s a parent to do?
First, take a deep breath and relax. Being a supportive, enthusiastic parent of an athlete is just like every other part of parenting. Challenging? Yes. Fun? Yes. Rewarding for both you and your child? Absolutely! Now that you’ve relaxed, think about the most important values you want your child to take away from his or her athletic experience. You might think of the following:
1. Increased self-esteem
2. Enjoyment from the sport
3. Friendship with his or her teammates
4. A sense of fair play and healthy competition
5. Respect for the game and for teammates as well as for adversaries
6. Teamwork
Now that you have identified a set of core values that you want your child to come away with, the rest is straightforward. Begin by following these 7 easy steps:
1. Be present at games and some practices. Doing this shows your child that you value how he or she is spending his or her time.
2. When you attend games, be enthusiastic – cheer for all members of your team, not just your own child.
3. Stay positive! Don’t disparage your child or any child on your own team. Even an off hand remark about a child’s apparent deficiencies can harm the child and create a negative atmosphere for the entire team. And children talk all the time, so what you say quietly to one parent or child has a way of making it around to the other children.
4. Maintain respect for everyone. Don’t yell disparaging remarks about the other team – the other team’s children have feelings and parents, too! What kind of values are you trying to teach your children? Again, always stay positive!
5. Encourage your child to make every day his or her best. Don’t pressure your child to exceed his or her capabilities, and don’t withdraw your support or love for a sub-par performance. You have off days and so will your child. Remember that your child might not be the best on the team, but if he or she makes a good play, then celebrate that. Many grown-ups who weren’t the stars of their teams can still remember the time they made a good pass to assist in a goal, or the time they hit a 6-foot jumper to give their team the lead, or the time they stretched a single into a double even though they didn’t score.
6. Remember this is your child’s activity, not yours. Many parents unwittingly re-live their own experience, or the experiences they wish they had had, through their child – Don’t, don’t, don’t be one of those parents!
7. Listen to your child. Your child will tell you if he or she is feeling pressured, not having fun, or dissatisfied in someway with the sport or team. Your child will tell you, but you have to be listening.
Playing a team sport can be one of the most wonderful experiences you and your child. Seeing your son or daughter grow as a young athlete, have fun, learn, develop, and appreciate a positive set of values is extremely rewarding for any parent. Guiding your child along the journey is one of the challenges, but also one of the profound joys of parenting.
Here are some good related websites:
http://www.turboathletes.com/parents.php
http://www.momsteam.com/alpha/features/cheersandtears/successful_development.shtml
http://www.rockswimming.org/Parents_Information/Ten_Commandments_for_parents.htm
http://youthsports.rutgers.edu/guidelines_for_supportive.html
http://www.sikids.com/sportsparents2/psychology/encourage.html
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