How much is too much?

GET METAL: ERIKA CARLSON 

   I am often asked by parents, “How hard should I push my kids to succeed in sports?” You want them to enjoy their experience, work hard and of course, play their best. But where is the line? How much is too much? As it turns out, it’s not just about how hard you push, but more about what you’re pushing. A 2011 study published in the Journal of Applied Sport Psychology found specific factors that helped to influence decreasing anxiety as the sport season progresses.

   The study measured four factors with 307 kids ranging in age from 9-14 years old:

   “º Perceived Parental Pressure “” Researchers asked the young athletes how much parents set expectations, gave evaluations after a game, and became upset with them if they didn’t play well.

   “º Parent-Initiated Motivational Climate “” This is a fancy term to describe the content of the expectations and evaluations.

   “º Mastery “” focused on learning and enjoyment (low to high)

   “º Ego “” focused on winning and outcomes (low to high) Performance Anxiety was assessed in 3 different ways

   “º Somatic “” “My body feels tense”

   “º Worry “” “I’m worried I will make a mistake”

   “º Concentration “” Disruption “I can’t focus.” The results might surprise you! Here they are…

   “º Strong parent pressure + low mastery or high ego = High Anxiety

   “º Strong parent pressure + high mastery = Lowered Anxiety To help athletes perform, especially those who tend to get nervous and anxious, pushing a strong agenda focused on learning new skills, mastering technique and lots of hard work will not only help minimize anxiety but produce excellent development and more performance.

Erika Carlson is a certified mental trainer and owner of Excellence In Sports Performance in Pleasanton.