They are all multi millionaire sports super stars who have inspired billions all over the world through what they do. Sport has evolved from being just a favorite pastime to being a massive income earner. Err talk of earning big bucks from doing what you love .....doing.
Parents must create an atmosphere where it’s not about “winning” or “being the best”, but rather about giving your best, says Claudette Jordan, a Durbanpsychologist, “Then we are encouraging pride in the attitude towards and the process of engaging in an activity rather than the end result.”
Kids won’t achieve in sports unless they can motivate themselves, says Pretoria sports psychologist Greyling Viljoen.
“If you put too much pressure on a child he’ll become demotivated and stop an activity at the first chance, or perhaps become ill or injure himself. The child must want to do the sport.”
Always distinguish between the achievement and the child. “Children are inclined to say: ‘Poor performance means I’m not good enough’. Then a parent should rather discuss the match and focus on a tactic or technique that can be improved.”
It’s also a good idea to emphasise hard work, not performance, Greyling says. “When you set goals with your child talk about the goals and the process: What must I do to get where I want to be? Emphasise that the goal is to train a certain number of hours a week rather than being among the top three,” he adds.
On a parting shot, encourage your kids to play sport. You never know where it will take them!
