Quick Links: Quiz: Is your teen a responsible athlete?
Sport teams at the high school level - and even in middle school – are serious in their workouts and competitions. Parents of athletes need to be prepared and prepare their teen for this because the more prepared your teen is, the safer his/her season will be and the more benefits he/she will receive.
Difficulty: Average
Time Required: each sport's season
Here's How:
- Check in with your teen's doctor. All high school sports require a physical – some schools even require a drug test. While this physical is good, you may still want to talk to your teen's doctor and see if there are any special issues relevant to your teen. If so, address them with your teen's input.
- Check their equipment. Sneakers, cleats, mouth guards, knee pads and more need to fit every year. Teens grow and safety equipment should be checked and changed if necessary.
- Check the family calendar. You’ll want to block out time for tournaments on weekends and during the holidays. If you normally plan a family trip during your teen's sports season, ask for a schedule before you finish your planning and work around these events.
- Does your teen wear glasses? Check with his/her eye doctor for a safety pair to wear during his/her sports practice and games. These are almost like goggles, but in your teen prescription. You may also want to consider allowing your teen to wear contacts.
- Talk to your teen and come up with general rules surrounding his/her sport. For instance:
- When he/she has practice, you expect him/her to be there giving 100%.
- If he/she is sick or hurt, you expect him/her to stay off the playing field and work on getting well.
- You expect your teen to always show admirable sportsmanship.
- Ask your teen what his/her goals are for the season. Remember this talking point throughout the season. Many times defining a goal at the beginning of a season will help your teen achieve it.
- Talk to your teen about how he/she will handle all of his/her homework with practice and on game nights. Help your teen make a proactive plan to keep his/her grades up by keeping his responsibilities in a planner, scheduling a study hall during the season and talking to his/her teachers.
Tips:
Quick Links: Quiz: Is your teen a responsible athlete?
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