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Sports and Your Young Athlete | Table of Contents

1. Parenting Young Athletes: Welcome to Youth Sports!

The Growth of Youth Sports
The Pros and Cons of Youth Sports
Developmental Versus Professional Models of Sport
Objectives of Youth Sports
Girls, Young Women, and Sports
Parents’ Roles and Responsibilities

2. Psychology and Young Athletes: What Parents Can Do

The Importance of Play
Achievement in Sports and Life
The Real Meaning of Winning
Sports and Development of Self-Esteem
Needs for Approval and Recognition
How to Not Destroy Love of the Game
Sports and Character-Building
How to Make Sports Fun

3. Choosing a Sport Program: A First Step to a Good Experience

Your Responsibility as a Parent
Deciding Together
How Early Should Children Participate?
Which Sports Should Your Child Play?
How Many Sports Should Your Child Play?
Sources of Information and How to Get It
Some Important Considerations in Deciding on a Program

4. Athletic Stress: Developing Coping Skills Through Sports

What is Stress?
How Stressful Are Youth Sports?
The Effects of Stress on Young Athletes
The Nature of Mental Toughness
Reducing Stress and Building Mental Toughness
Some Final Words

5. Sport Injuries: Be Informed and Know What to Do

What is a Sport Injury?
Things Not to Do After a Sport Injury
Things to Do After a Sport Injury
Playing When Injured or Ill
What You Should Know About Concussions
When Injury Prevents Participation
Preventing Sport Injuries
Being Prepared for an Emergency
Some Final Words

6. Parent-Coach Relationships: Increasing Harmony and Minimizing Hassle

Some Challenges That Might Surface
Getting Input from Your Child
Approaches to Conflict Resolution
Initiating Conflict Resolution with a Coach
Coach-Initiated Conflict Resolution
What to Do if You Cannot Resolve a Conflict
Some Final Words

7. Behavior at Sport Events: Guidelines for Positive Parenting

Parent Behavior During Practices and Competitions
Dealing With the “Joy of Victory”
Dealing With the “Agony of Defeat”
Anger Management for Youth Sport Moms and Dads
Combating the “Frustrated Athlete" Disorder

8. Protecting Your Child: Detecting Problems and Preventing Harm

Bullying
Sexual Abuse
Sport-Related Drugs
Eating Disorders

9. Challenging Issues: Some Commonsense Approaches

Keeping Sports in Perspective
Failing in School vs. Playing Sports
Should Boys and Girls Compete Against Each Other?
Giving Attention to Nonathletes in the Family
Are Sport Stars Good Role Models?
Goal Setting for Peak Performance
What to Do if Your Child is Cut from a Team
What to Do if Your Child Wants to Quit Sports
Sport Nutrition
Meeting Young Athletes’ Needs for Water
College Recruiting
Some Final Words

Bonus. Sport Psychology and Coaching: Effective Leadership Principles

Coaches Are Very Important People
Orientation to the Psychology of Coaching
Reactive Coaching Behaviors
Spontaneous/Self-Initiated Coaching Behaviors
Gaining Athletes’ Respect
Communicating Effectively
Increasing Self-Awareness
Avoiding Disputes About Playing Time
Coaching Your Own Child
Some Final Words