1. PREPARING YOUTH: WHAT PARENTS SHOULD KNOW Wayne Goldsmith www.sportscoachingbrain.com University of Queensland May 11th 2011

2. About me. Live in Australia on the Gold Coast. Married – Helen, psychologist, former elite swimmer, coach. Four kids! Xenavee – 10. Alex – 8 Hayden – 4 Dean – 11 months.

3. Important concept Athletes should do their job to the best of their ability; Coaches should do their job to the best of their ability; Parents should do their job to the best of their ability. It’s a Performance Partnership.

4. The Performance Partnership Real success is possible when all “performance partners” do their job to the best of their ability.

5. What can you do? Unconditional love. Develop the person. Listen. Values. Virtues. Character. Independence. Support. Unconditional love.

6. Why problems happen. Problems happen when people in the partnership cross their lines of responsibility. Athletes: train, compete and recover. Coaches: coach. Parents: Parent. Communication is everything.

7. Top Ten Tips for Sporting Parents 1: Training Load. How many training sessions should your child do each week? As many as they need to achieve their goals. As many as they enjoy. As many as their mind and body can manage. No golden rules or magic formulas.

8. Top Ten Tips for Sporting Parents 2: Special Diet. Sporting kids do not need a special diet. Keep it simple. Fresh. Limit junk food. Lots of fruit and vegetables. Lean meat. NO SUPPLEMENTS. Don’t use food as a reward.

9. Top Ten Tips for Sporting Parents 3: School and Sport. School comes first. Sport can teach lessons about life, values, team building, leadership, time management etc. Must learn to balance both school and sport commitments. Forget Thorpe, Hewitt and the out-liers.

10. Top Ten Tips for Sporting Parents 4: Specialisation. There is no golden rule about when kids should specialise in one sport or one event or one position. They will tell you what they want to do….when they are physically and mentally ready to specialise they will specialise.

11. Top Ten Tips for Sporting Parents 5: Talent. Real talent is harder to HIDE than it is to FIND. You as a parent are in no position to judge talent – that’s our job. Talent by itself is not the key…it’s talent plus attitude. Talent under 12 years of age is not talent – it’s growth and development.

12. Top Ten Tips for Sporting Parents 6: Strength Training. Kids of any age can do strength training. Body weight exercises. Stability. Flexibility. Mobility Good technique important. Weights not the answer…technique and skills and mental approach more important.

13. Top Ten Tips for Sporting Parents 7: Finding a Coach. Find a coach who has the background, training and skills in the sport. Someone who will work with you. Someone who loves their job. Someone who is passionate and can inspire passion in others. Someone your kid likes.

14. Top Ten Tips for Sporting Parents 8: Fatigue and Illness Monitor kids for signs of fatigue. Sleeplessness. Weight loss. Apathy. Mood changes. Loss of appetite. Loss of enthusiasm. Like you when you are tired.

15. Top Ten Tips for Sporting Parents 9: Self Confidence. Self belief and self confidence are THE critical cornerstones of success for every athlete. Work with them throughout their lives to develop these skills – they are essential. Build character and confidence and the athlete stuff will take care of itself.

16. Top Ten Tips for Sporting Parents 9: Parent Behaviour Calm and dignified at sporting events. Don’t run down the coach. Don’t challenge the coach in front of athletes. The Performance NOT the Person. Live the sporting experience with them – not for them and through them.

17. Top Ten Tips for Sporting Parents 10: How long does it take? We believe it takes around ten years of dedicated practice for athletes to realise their full potential. No short cuts. No gimmicks. No quick answers. Consistent quality training, good coaching and great parenting.

18. Summary. Do your “job” to the best of your ability. Love them, teach values, create confidence, encourage independence and develop the human being. Support the coach. Be patient. Let them be kids…then help them be athletes.

19. Contacts Wayne Goldsmith Managing Director, MOREGOLD PERFORMANCE CONSULTING. www.moregold.com.au www.sportscoachingbrain.com www.swimcoachingbrain.com www.businesscoachingbrain.com Email: wayne@moregold.com.au