Pushing young athletes too hard

In today's competitive world, parents pushing athletes too hard has become a major problem and concern. Learn why it is dangerous and what happens with parents pushing athletes too hard.
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Pushing young athletes too hard

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One of the question that parents have is how to deal with a child that's a really gifted athlete and you want to push them, but you don't want to push them too hard. Honestly, there is no simple answer to this. Every child is unique on this question. You have to be able to read that particular player and child. I'll tell you this, if you make a mistake and push them too hard, they are going to quit when they are 13 or 14. If you push them too hard when they are 5 or 6, they are going to quit when they are 13 or 14. Keep in mind that fact when you are out there at a soccer game and they've scored four goals. Calm down, don't put so much emphasis on winning all the time. Try to de-escalate a little bit of the accolades. That's the best way for those types of athletes to stay interested. Treat them like everybody else.

In today's competitive world, parents pushing athletes too hard has become a major problem and concern. Learn why it is dangerous and what happens with parents pushing athletes too hard.

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Geoff Wells

Dad, Lawyer & Coach

Geoff Wells is a law partner at Greene Broillet & Wheeler in Santa Monica California. He is a graduate of the University of Washington class of 1981, and was a pitcher on the baseball team. He then went on to graduate from Pepperdine University School of Law in 1985. He has been a youth and travel ball baseball coach since 2003. He is married to Janet Ray and has two children, Morgan and Garrett.

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Transcription: 
One of the question that parents have is how to deal with a child that's a really gifted athlete and you want to push them, but you don't want to push them too hard. Honestly, there is no simple answer to this. Every child is unique on this question. You have to be able to read that particular player and child. I'll tell you this, if you make a mistake and push them too hard, they are going to quit when they are 13 or 14. If you push them too hard when they are 5 or 6, they are going to quit when they are 13 or 14. Keep in mind that fact when you are out there at a soccer game and they've scored four goals. Calm down, don't put so much emphasis on winning all the time. Try to de-escalate a little bit of the accolades. That's the best way for those types of athletes to stay interested. Treat them like everybody else.