How do you know your child is improving in sports?
Many parents and amateur coaches get the word IMPROVING & WINNING RECORDS confused.
By ZURIEL LOZANO
How do you know if your child is improving in sports?
Depends on whom you ask and what improvement means to them. For example, there are a number of parents & coaches whom measure their children’s improvement based on what “level” team they are playing.
Another example, some parents & coaches will judge their kid’s improvements (goalkeepers) based on the amount of saves or how many goals they “LET IN”, as some would say…” My kid let in so many goals this weekend”. As if this child is proud to be scored on. You get the point!!!
In addition, when I ask amateur players how they played this past weekend, their answer is always “ we lost” or “we won”. They never even say “I had a great top corner save”, “my side punts are very accurate” or “my vertical jump and speed is improving” etc.
Last, if you were to ask an amateur coach about their team’s success & improvement, they will immediately talk about the amount of wins or losses they have in a season.
“As an amateur player, playing for a TOP TEAM it doesn’t mean you are the best. It means there is more work to do ahead to STAY ON TOP”
Let’s look at improvement from a Sport Performance view:
If you are a Professional soccer player or any pro sport (by the way, pro sports is a business) wins & losses is the STANDARD. Players are already developed by the time they arrive at a Pro League. Pro soccer players, managers & teams will get fired at any time if they do not perform. Improvement is viewed differently at this level.
For an AMATEUR athlete, DEVELOPMENT should be the only priority. Every coach & team is 100% focused on helping their AMATEUR athletes get better, stronger, faster, smarter (soccer IQ), more confident and excited to play the game, etc.
After all, amateur athletes are still learning for many years to come. In REALITY, this is not exactly what happens. There is a small percentage of athletes who enjoy full attention from coaches or their clubs. But the other 90% are on their own.
Here’s the good news, NOBODY cares about your child more than YOU!!!
YOU (parent)have the best interest of your child. In fact, if you carefully pay attention around your child’s training, games & coaching staff, you will be able to see your child’s reaction and behaviors. Listen to coaches how they interact to their players, these cues will give you a clear understanding
Only then you will be able to adequately see how well they are actually improving.
Your child can reach WHATEVER GOALS they desire but it doesn’t always have to be the “straight line to it”. Your child may have a dream to play in college
Please know that I am only stating facts, I will ALWAYS advocate for the young and amateur athletes.
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