Are We Pushing Our Young Athletes Too Hard?

Plus: When to Hit the Brakes on a Sport

Author

Lakshmi Jayanthi
June 04, 2024

Hello and welcome to The Parenting Pitch by Pickup Sports!

Raising Young Athletes in Today's Sports World

We had an insightful chat we had with former NFL player and dad of two, Chris Crocker around the topic of “When to flip the switch from youth athlete to “elite” athlete.”

Chris grew up in a totally different sports environment than his kids are experiencing today. Back in the day, playing sports was just for fun - the neighborhood crew would get together and decide that day what they felt like playing, with the kid who had the equipment making the rules. It was as simple as that!

Fast-forward to 2023, and his kids and all of our kids’ lives as young athletes look drastically different. Of course, there are organized leagues, competitive travel teams, focused skill workouts and techniques from very early ages. It's a high-pressure environment of being an “elite” athlete from the moment they can run and kick a ball.

I know I'm not alone in wondering - are we pushing our kids too hard, too fast in the name of future athletic success?

Chris brought up some thought-provoking points that we could all benefit from as sports parents. More on that here 👇🏼

3 Key Takeaways from Chris Crocker's Parent Chat

Access the full video here!

🥇What Does It Really Mean to Be “Elite”?

The overuse of the word “elite” to market youth sports programs is troubling. The truth? You can't really be considered an elite-level athlete until at least college age. Before then, you're simply a “high-performing” young athlete (with a few exceptions like gymnastics). You can't predict the “top 10%” until adolescence anyway! Be wary of any org promising elite status for your child - it's just a marketing tactic to get you to sign up.

⚠️When to Hit the Brakes on a Sport

Sometimes well-meaning parents and coaches can push too hard, too fast. If your child starts losing their passion and fun for the sport, it's time to reset. You don't want them burning out before they’ve even hit their prime years. As Chris says:

“If they stop loving the game at 10 years old, you've lost them by 14 or 15 when things really start to matter for the elite levels.”

🤔When IS the Right Time to “Flip the Switch”?

There’s no one-size-fits-all for when to get more serious and focused on a sport. It depends on the individual kid. The key? In the below video, Chris explains that the switch to a more competitive focus should be led by the child, not pressured by parents or coaches.

The journey for our young athletes is long, and there's no need to sprint out of the gates. Let them enjoy the process, feed their passions, and progress will follow!

We’d love to hear about your experiences! How are you balancing encouraging your kids to pursue their athletic dreams while keeping it fun and low-pressure?