It might not seem like it sometimes, but parents can play a critical role in the development of a young keeper. Sure, you might be paying through the nose for a coach to train your son or daughter in the physical aspects of the game, but there are still lots of things you can do to facilitate their growth – particularly when it comes to the mental side of the game.
In fact, if you look at a lot of successful professional athletes, they attribute a lot of their success to their parents. In the following articles I will cover
those things which I consider to be the most important. Beginning with…
Protecting Your Child’s Confidence.
One of the most important factors in being a successful athlete is maintaining an excellent mental attitude. This is especially true when it comes to something like goalkeeping, which requires the resilience to withstand the bad moments and not let them affect performance throughout the rest of the game.
Experience tells us that a large part of a child’s self-confidence stems from their parents. It’s your role to be there to help them develop their own self esteem – Like a bamboo stake supporting a sunflower until it can hold its own weight.
Try to consistently remind them of the good things about their performance. Be aware of how they are reacting to bad situations and try to help them stay positive when it counts. Talk to them. Find out what they’re thinking and help steer them away from negative tendencies.
Believe me when I tell you this will make a huge difference on (and off) the pitch as your child matures and begins to learn how to deal with criticism on their own.
