Young Athlete Newsletter August 15 2010
11 & Under Athlete Section
Hi, hope you are having a good week. Have fun with this newsletter. Read it with your parents and discuss some of the things I am writing to you about. Ask questions so you understand the topics in the newsletter. I want this to be fun for you and your parents!
Work Your Weak Areas
One way to be a better athlete is to work hard on your weak areas. For a gymnast it might be beam. Ask for extra help on beam at your next practice. For basketball players it might be dribbling. DO NOT ignore your weak areas. You will be a better athlete if you attack those areas that need the most improvement. (And don’t wait for your coaches to help you in these areas. If you have some free time, practice on your weak areas by yourself.)
Officials Sometimes Get Things Wrong
No one is perfect. Just like you may fall off the bars during your routine, the judge may make a mistake with your score. No one is perfect. Umpires aren’t perfect either. Don’t get upset when that happens and let it bother your performance. Things usually even out as sometimes you will get a higher score than you deserve. Understand that people can make mistakes sometimes. The really good athlete understands this.
Helping A Teammate
Be the type of athlete who helps others. This isn’t just about you. If you see a teammate who is struggling, go offer some help. Sometimes a teammate will have a bad meet or competition, they could use you. This makes you an even better teammate and person. Again, this isn’t just about you.
When Was The Last Time You:
Said “thank you” to your coaches after a practice? You do want to be a nice person, don’t you?
Bad First Event
We all mess up sometimes on our first event or our first at bat in a game. The great athlete stays focused and does better the next event or at bat. Stay under control. If you get upset you usually mess up the next time. Stay under control. Your coaches and parents like seeing you staying in control when things go a little wrong. (That is showing maturity as an athlete and as a person.) Ask someone what maturity means if you are not sure.
Your Challenge This Week
Sweat. Yes, do something that makes you sweat. Work so hard at something that water drops down from your forehead. The best would be to work so hard that your parent or coach actually notices that you are sweating. That is what I want you to work on this week.
A comment from your parents about last week:
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Puzzle This Week - unscramble the following words to make a phrase.
I N A W T O T T T E A R Y M S T E N P A R T T E E B R
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“Have a great week!” Be Special!” Tom
12 & Over Athlete Section
“I want to be treated like a young adult!”
Hi, hope you are having a good week.
Lying To Your Parents
It is important to keep a strong trust between you and your parents. You say something, they believe you. They say something, you believe them. When you lie, that trust is broken for awhile. It hurts your parents when you lie to them. It will hurt you too because they won’t trust you for awhile after you are caught lying. It isn’t worth it. In most families, lying about breaking a window is far more serious than actually breaking the window.
There Is A Limit To The Money
Want to be treated like a young adult? Start showing that you understand that there is a limit to the family money. $125 sneakers? $250 baseball bat? $20 for the mall after your Mom just paid $150 for your gymnastics this month? Show your parents that you understand and stop putting pressure on them to spend and spend and spend for you. There is a limit.
What Makes Your Coaches Happy?
Usually coaches are happy when they see their athletes working hard. They are also happy when the athletes are “interested” in learning. It isn’t fun “forcing” you to learn. Have a good attitude almost all of the time. Be pleasant. This week make a super effort to do the things that make your coaches happy. See if they notice.
Appreciating Your Competitors
I love it when I see an athlete from one team giving a high five to an athlete from another team after a competition. You aren’t “enemies.” You are 2 young athletes trying your best to perform well during the competition. If you see a gymnast from another team do a super vault, find a way to congratulate them. How would you feel after having a really good softball game if one of the players on the other team came over and said “great game” and patted you on the back. THAT is what we want sports to be all about.
When Was The Last Time You:
Were complimented by your coaches for working hard? Maybe you aren’t showing them enough. Get that compliment this week. (And if you have a coach who doesn’t compliment very much, say in a very nice way “hey coach, I am really trying to impress you with my hard work.”) Sometimes they forget to give compliments
Peers
You are getting old enough to start understanding about peers. They are the friends that you hang around with. Good peers are great and you can learn a lot from them. There will be people in your life who try to get you to do things that you know aren’t right. YOU have to make the right choices. Do not be pressured by a bad peer who isn’t thinking clearly about what could happen. Lots more of my thoughts on controlling your peers in the coming issues of the newsletter.
A comment from your parents about last week:
____________________________________________________________________________________
Puzzle This Week - unscramble the following words to make a phrase.
I N A W T O T T T E A R Y M S T E N P A R T T E E B R
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
“Have a great week!” Be Special!” Tom
