It is no secret that every parent dreams that his or her child will be successful in any activity, especially in sports. But it is important not only to choose the right sports direction, corresponding to the interests and aptitudes of the child, but also for the parents themselves to support their child.
Many people ask themselves, what is the secret of success of future athletes? After all, not everyone from the usual sections grow into champions. So what is the main thing: the money, or maybe some features of the child?
Where to start?
Recall that most famous athletes came to sports at an early age (from 3 to 5 years old). However, it would be a mistake to give a three-year-old to a highly specialized section. It is best to attend General Training Classes, gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, dancing until the age of 5.
It is important to pay attention to the child’s desire to go in a particular direction, perhaps he or she does not want to go in a sports direction, no matter how parents insist. There should be no conflict of parental attitudes, their unrealized in childhood, and the child’s desire to engage in a particular activity. It is also worth paying attention to medical indicators and the admission of the ward to physical activity. If from a young age physical activity is restricted, then in a couple of years it is unlikely that it will be allowed.
Choice of direction and trainer
If you have already decided on the direction of training, you should still decide in what particular sports school is better to give your son or daughter. Reviews about the school and coaching staff is better to read on local forums, ask your friends. You can personally meet with a coach to discuss all the nuances, the program, the schedule. It’s important to know if the child likes the coach, because psychological comfort also has its place. If the mentor becomes an authority, a teacher for the future athlete, then the child will be happy to attend classes and will be focused on success.
Worried about a child, parents often interfere in the coach’s work, giving advice on how best to talk to the child, what to do or not to do. But this only interferes with the normal work of the coach. It is better to trust a professional, because he himself aims to raise an athlete, a future Olympic champion. And it is better to leave confidential conversations for the child.
Another problem of today’s children is over-organization. Excessive busyness of a child does not leave much energy for proper training. It is necessary to eliminate less important or unnecessary activities, and it is better to leave time for rest.
Nutrition for the athlete
The nutrition of the future champion is not unimportant. The coach can guide you with the diet before and after training, but the entire responsibility for this point lies on the parents. Feed your child healthy food rich in micro- and macronutrients. A growing body needs more protein foods, and in general a person who trains intensively will eat more, because the metabolic processes in the body are intensified. For example, boys engaged in sports at the age of 6 to 12 years need 1800-2400 calories per day, while girls need 200 calories less. Meat and fish dishes, dairy products, cottage cheese, milk, kefir should be included in the diet of children.
Carbohydrates are also important for energy metabolism. But you should not give light (harmful carbohydrates) in the form of candy or other sweets. The body will get more energy from complex carbohydrates, which are contained in cereals, bread, pasta from durum wheat.
Pay attention to the drinking regime. Every 15 minutes children need to drink 100-120 grams of fluids. Children must be given a bottle of plain unsweetened water without gas during training.
The main conclusions on nutrition for child athletes:
- food should be fractional, 4 times a day;
- the intervals between meals should be less than 5 hours;
- eat before training, 2 hours in advance, before the competition – 3.5 hours;
- no child shall be allowed to practice on an empty stomach;
- after training, you should eat no earlier than 20-30 minutes.
Support for parents
Parents should teach the child a regimen, discipline and diligence, to motivate him properly. And above all, start with yourself, with their example and support parents will help children adapt faster to intensive classes. Often parents in the pursuit of glory begin to put pressure on the child, forgetting that he is still small, or, conversely, too comforting in moments of defeat. Don’t take it personally, don’t scold your child if he/she is not good at something. As they say, one learns from mistakes, and a correctly analyzed error can be a good lesson! It is necessary to support him in any situation, because you don’t become champions right away!