The Personal Development of Youth Athletes

Dr. Mark addresses Athlete Wellbeing

The health and wellbeing of young athletes goes far beyond the physical dynamics involving sports. The current generation of youth athletes requires a holistic approach towards the wellbeing and development in athletics. 

Assisting athletes in coping with sport-specific expectations, injury, anxiety, depression, conflict, communication with coaches, social media, alcohol or drug use, game-related pressure, sexual assault, athletic identity and other areas is vital to the personal development of youth athletes. Regardless of socioeconomic level, private, public, urban or suburban, all athletes encounter a sport-related problem sometime along the path.  When unattended the result can limit success and affect an athlete’s wellbeing no matter the skills or athletic attributes of an individual.

The key ingredient

Most parents and high school athletes are spending a lot of time and money on sport specific trainers. The number of trainers for basketball, football, volleyball, including strength and conditioning experts throughout the country has grown astronomically. While developing a sport-specific skill is necessary for improvement, the wellbeing of an athlete has become the separator or key ingredient regarding an athletes success and ability to move to the next level.

Each year athletes are required to have a “sports clearance” to participate in sports. High school athletics has implemented concussion protocol and procedures. These guidelines and procedures focus on the physical health components of an athlete’s participation; not necessarily the overall wellbeing of the athlete.

Personal development tied to performance

The personal development of the athlete is an area high school athletics has not yet adopted. However, on the collegiate level, the personal development of the athlete has been embraced and is directly tied to performance outcomes. According to Mark Emmert the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) President, “the three current areas of focus of the association are academic, fairness and wellbeing.” The essence of wellbeing is the personal development of the athlete beyond his or her sport.

Personal development – on the collegiate level – is necessary due to the high level of play, performance expectations, and issues and challenges athletes encounter at that level. These issues and challenges are common for high school athletes too but often go unattended, primarily due to the lack of information on the subject. Thus resulting in athletes and parents missing a key ingredient to development and overall success.

Over the coming months, I will provide you with topics, content, and methods of application in the area of athlete wellbeing to provide an opportunity for growth and development with the athletes you encounter.

Dr. Mark Robinson, M.S., Ph.D., is a Personal Player Development Professional and provides Counseling and Guidance for Athletes, Parents, and Coaches.