Write your search in the input below and press enter.
Esc to close.

The Sports Doc Chalk Talk with Dr. Chris Stankovich

Peak Performance:
Not Just for Sports, for Life

  • Products
    • Toolkits
    • Audio
    • Videos
    • Books
    • Apps
  • Services
  • Chalk Talk
    • Recent
    • Athletes
    • Coaching
    • Sports Parenting
    • Sports Administrators
    • Life
    • Administrators
  • About Dr. Stankovich
  • Testimonials
  • Contact
  • Products
    • Toolkits
    • Audio
    • Books
    • Videos
    • Apps
  • Services
  • Chalk Talk
  • About Dr. Stankovich
  • Testimonials
  • Contact

Hello. Sign In

My Account
  • Login
  • Register
0
The Sports Doc Chalk Talk
Subscribe
The Sports Doc Chalk Talk with Dr. Chris Stankovich
  • Recent
  • Athletes
  • Coaching
  • Sports Parenting
  • Life
  • Administrators
Home / Blog / Quick Tips for Parents if Your Child Decides to Quit Sports

Quick Tips for Parents if Your Child Decides to Quit Sports

By: Dr. Chris Stankovich | @DrStankovich | Mar 06, 2013

No Comments

Gymnast on Balance Beam

While it is true that some young athletes set their future goals toward being a professional athlete one day, many others lose interest as they get older and eventually face the difficult decision to quit sports.  This can be tough for some parents — especially if the child is athletically talented and doesn’t necessarily have to quit because he or she is no longer good enough to play.

The #1 reason why kids play sports is to have fun, and usually the #1 reason why kids decide to quit sports is because they no longer have fun playing.  Other less prevalent reasons for voluntary quitting include ongoing nagging injuries and developing other interests in life.  So what should you do if your child decides he or she wants to quit?  The following tips are designed to help you navigate through this transition:

  • First, try and understand your child’s reasons for wanting to quit.  Ask open-ended questions (“Tell me about why you feel this way?”) and listen to what he or she says without judgement.
  • If your child identifies a specific reason, try and determine whether the reason is long-lasting (i.e. your child tells you she hasn’t had fun playing for years) or transient (i.e. he tells you he doesn’t like this year’s coach).  Obviously the longer, enduring reasons should be looked at very differently than a coach who will not be your child’s coach the following year.
  • Discuss various options with your child – like possibly taking a season off rather than quitting altogether.  Sometimes a short break can make a big difference, especially when it comes to sports burnout.
  • If the question of quitting comes up during a season, try and encourage your child to finish the season if at all possible.  Of course, if your child is injured this may not be possible, but it really is important to learn the importance of finishing what you start.

Your child may eventually want to quit sports, but this doesn’t have to be a bad experience for your family.  Take note of all the wonderful experiences he or she has had in sports, and all the invaluable athletic transferable skills he or she has learned while competing — by doing this you will not only lessen the stress associated with quitting, but also maximize your child’s athletic experience.

www.drstankovich.com

www.sportsuccess360.com is the one-stop-shop for all your contemporary psychosocial needs!

The Mental Toughness Guide to Success is now available!  Pick up your copy today!

 

 

  • Author
  • Comments
  • Details
Get to Know the Author

Dr. Chris Stankovich

Dr. Stankovich has written/co-written five books, including Positive Transitions for Student Athletes, The ParentsPlaybook, Mind of Steel.

Dr. Chris Stankovich

Latest Blog Posts

  • February 16, 2021 Help Kids Overcome Pandemic Anxiety as they Head Back to School
  • February 10, 2021 Is Mark Cuban’s Remedy for National Anthem Protests the Right Move?
  • February 4, 2021 Former NFL Star Warns of Potential Problems Dealing with Sport Retirement
  • February 1, 2021 Lacking Social Interaction is Hitting Kids Hard through Pandemic
  • December 22, 2020 Parent Sports Pressure Can Leave Kids with Overwhelming Expectations

Comments are closed.

PREVIOUS POST

3 Tips for Helping Young Athletes with Sports Aggression

NEXT POST

Examining Why Sports Superstitions “Work”

Category

Amateur , Athletes , Athletic Director , Boys Sports , Coaching , Communicating with Coach , Girls Sports , Leadership , Quitting , Sport Psychology , Sports Administrators , Sports Leadership , Sports Parenting , Sports Performance Science , Training and Development , Travel Leagues , Youth and Interscholastic Sports , Youth Sport Burnout , Youth Sports

Tags

  • Recent Posts
  • Most Read
  • Help Kids Overcome Pandemic Anxiety as they Head Back to School
  • Is Mark Cuban's Remedy for National Anthem Protests the Right Move?
  • Former NFL Star Warns of Potential Problems Dealing with Sport Retirement
  • Lacking Social Interaction is Hitting Kids Hard through Pandemic
  • Parent Sports Pressure Can Leave Kids with Overwhelming Expectations
  • Parent Sports Pressure Can Leave Kids with Overwhelming Expectations
  • Success is Achieved by Striving for Excellence, Not Perfection
  • Overcome Adversity by Using this Important Mental Toughness Strategy
  • Challenges Endure for Student Athletes Managing Pandemic Stress & Related Concerns
  • Maximize the Strength of Your Team through Care, Concern, & Compassion
  • The Sports Doc on TV

    Catch Dr. Stankovich’s tv, radio, and print interviews and columns here!

    Dr. Chris Stankovich Watch Videos
  • Sport Performance Assessment

    Dr. Chris Stankovich Quickly and accurately test your level of mental toughness in just a few minutes using the Sport Performance Assessment.

    (SPA), an easy-to-use sport psychology system specially designed to help you REACH YOUR FULL ATHLETIC POTENTIAL.

    learn more
  • SportsSuccess360

    Life strategies for performance and character development for coaches, parents, and student athletes competing in youth and interscholastic sports.

    Life Strategies learn more
  • Contact Dr. Stankovich

    1395 Grandview Avenue Suite 6, Columbus OH 43212

    (614) 561-4482
    Media & General Inquiries
    information@drstankovich.com
    Sales & Product Support
    sales@drstankovich.com
  • About Dr. Stankovich

    • Media
    • Blog
    • Testimonials
  • Products

    • Toolkits
    • Videos
    • Books
    • Audio
    • iPhone Apps
  • Services

    • Athlete Performance Training
    • Parent Community Forum
    • Coach Education & Development
    • Athletic Crisis Response and Intervention
    • Drug & Alcohol Assessment
    • Life Success Programs
    • Counseling & Consulting Services
  • Blog
  • YouTube
  • twitter
  • facebook

All rights reserved © 2021 Advanced Human Performance Systems™

↓ ↓