Parents: How can I help my student-athlete?

Parents: How can I help my student athlete?

Are you the proud parent of a student athlete, and looking for ways to help him or her? Besides attending games, there are other ways you can show your support. As a sports agent we often meet with parents and the most common question we get is, “how can I help my student-athlete?.” In this post parents can discover ways to support their child’s academic and athletic success.

Are you having an important event that will make you miss a game? Don’t worry! Make sure to watch or listen to live streaming (possibly afterwards, and if available). Your athlete will highly appreciate the effort, and you will still be able to discuss the highlights at home!

Give them space after the game

After the game, your child might need some time to spend with their teammates. Give them a little space, and wait for them to reach out. You can also shoot them a quick text asking how it went and to call you once they are free.

Encourage self-advocacy

Your student-athlete will reach an age where they will communicate directly with their coaches, without your mediation. As a parent, encourage them to speak-up for themselves and to tell people they interact with about their thoughts and feelings. Help your student-athlete communicate effectively by suggesting language to use during tough conversations. Encourage them to approach their coaches with confidence, learn how to accept constructive criticism, and stand up for themselves.

Remind them to manage their time

Student-athletes live by a tight and busy schedule. But falling behind on schoolwork is not an option. Help your student-athlete succeed both on and off the field, by stressing the importance of balancing academics and sports. Even though sports may be a passion, it’s essential to prioritize schoolwork and manage time effectively. Encourage them to establish a routine that enables them to do well in both sport and school. To help your child succeed as a student-athlete, provide guidance on time management. Offer advice on when to practice and study, as well as when to rest and relax. By planning their time effectively, your child can excel both on the field and in the classroom.

Listen

Tell them it’s okay to take rest

Student-athletes often prioritize their sport and forget that mental health is crucial. Remind them that rest is necessary, and that they should not neglect their passions and social life outside of sports. Encourage your child to take breaks and prioritize their well-being to improve their athletic performance. Help your child to value both their athletic efforts and their academic opportunities. Take them seriously as persons with lives beyond their sports.

Let the coaches do their job

Many parents are very involved in their child’s sports. And yes, your support and encouragement has played a significant role in their development. However, remember that the coaches are there to coach, and that you are ‘only’ a spectator. Parents can help their student-athlete by supporting the coaches athletic development plan for their athlete’s career. So, sit back, and watch your student-athlete shine!

Remind them of their strengths

Your student-athlete has come a long way thanks to their determination and commitment. The higher the level of competition, the more they need to excel both on and off the field. It’s important to support your child when they go through tough times. Receiving a low grade or being rejected for an internship are two examples. Encourage them to stay strong, work hard, and remind them that success takes time and effort. With perseverance and a positive attitude, they will achieve their goals and succeed in their athletic and academic pursuits. Balancing academics and sports teaches useful skills for work and life. This makes it likely for athletes to be successful in their future endeavors. Employers will recognize those skills.

Enjoy every single moment!

Being a student-athlete isn’t always easy, but it’s an adventure you’ll miss once it’s over. So enjoy the ride, and don’t forget to tell your child how proud you are of them. Having the support from parents every step of the way, will help create a positive experience for their child.

Parents: How can I help my student-athlete get sponsorships?

For many kids, playing the sports they love in college is a goal that they work toward. It involves a lot of hard work and dedication, and getting recruited is a long process. Does your child love sports, but do you, as a parent, also realize how expensive college is? A state school costs an average of $20,092 a year. Additionally, more than 70% of students graduate with student loan debt. Therefore, it’s understandable that parents hope their students get offered an athletics scholarship. Scholarships can help with college fees, but require planning, networking, and hard work to achieve How can you help get your son or daughter a scholarship? And how easy, or how difficult, is it to get one? Full scholarships are rare, however, many student-athletes can get at least a partial scholarship. There are several things you can do as a parent to help your child earn a scholarship.

Make them start early

From the moment your athlete starts going to high school, preparation for college starts, too. Freshman year of high school is the time to start working towards playing in college. However, many high school athletes are late bloomers in their talent. Luckily, recruiters are aware of this trend. 

To develop the skills recruiters are looking for, specializing in one sport is important. However, parents should help their student-athlete by encouraging their child to play two or more sports to enhance athletic capabilities for their primary sport. This allows them to have fun playing sports without pressure of having to earn a scholarship or building a career. If you are not 100% convinced, here are some statistics: 88% (222 out of the 253) of the NFL players chosen in the 2017 draft had played two or more sports in high school. When looking at collegiate level, it was found that 4 out of 5 students at Ohio State that earned athletic scholarships have played more than one sports in high school.

Make sure they do good at school

Parents – “How can I help my student-athlete get recruited?”

Keep in mind that being able to play professionally after college is just not a chance for everyone. Your child’s sport might not become his or her future after they finish school. Therefore, academic performance matters just as much. Make sure that in his or her team, your child is not only a player, but also a great leader. This will help him/her build character, and coaches will take notice as well.

Reach out to coaches and scouts

Sometimes it’s just not enough to wait for recruiters and coaches to notice your child. Therefore, you should be reaching out to coaches at the programs your child is interested in. However, make sure to follow the NCAA recruiting rules for doing so. 

You could create and send out a highlight video and a CV in which you emphasize your child’s achievements. Also, don’t forget to keep the coaches updated as your child develops and improves. Your child should start networking with the people who can help him or her get into the right sports program. Attend sports camps, choose a high school with connections to top college sports programs to make valuable connections. Depending on the sport your child wants to play, you should look into schools with strong programs in that sport. Recruiting services can help athletes connect with teams that best fit their needs and goals. By being proactive before and during the recruiting process will help them solve the burning question that most student- athletes have, “How can I stand out as an athlete?“

Stay all in

Your child should be showing interest in the programs they would like to attend. If you, as a parent, are taking care of the communications, make sure to be responsive to (coaches’) emails. Also, go have a virtual tour together with your child to see the campuses and athletic facilities. Your child should remember that it’s up to them to stay in communication with their preferred college athletics department. Interest and clear communication increase chances of recruitment and scholarships for desired team. However, it can happen that their top choices are not interested, while other colleges keep pursuing your child. Remember your athlete to stay open-minded, and to not ignore these options.

Don’t let them get discouraged

It’s very normal to be rejected more than one time. That does not necessarily mean your child doesn’t have what it takes to play at the college level. If your child has not been recruited, don’t give up. Remind them that it’s never too late to send their highlight tape to coaches. If someone says ‘no,’ athletes should use it as motivation to work harder and showcase their skills. The recruitment process is not always an easy and exciting one, however, it is worth the ride. 

Encourage early start, stay in touch with coaches, support skill development, and prioritize academics for your child’s athletic success. Hopefully they will get that offer to play the sport they love the most in college!