How to Support your Young Athlete

So your kid finally came home with one of those flyers. You know the one. Printed on school paper with little clip art kids happily play sports. Sports you know nothing, or maybe too much about.

And your kid wants to sign up for the team.

You excitedly fill out the signup form. Turn it back in, and receive the practice schedule. Your kiddo is ready to go, but what do you do to support your young athlete?

***Disclaimer-This post was sponsored by BODYARMOR sports drink and may contain affiliate links. Rest assured, all opinions shared in this post are my own (probably with some influence from my kids).***

Fueling Up With Food

Everyone knows that you need to be fueled up before the big game. But what do you feed these kids? And do we need to be fueling them up for practice?

One great way to support your young athletes is to ensure that they are getting the proper nutrition before every sporting event. Sure, you can carb-load these kids and hype them up on sugar, but that isn’t going to help them.

Instead of providing meals or snacks that will leave your kiddo crashing later, try some of these alternatives:

• Lean Lunch Meat Roll-Ups
• Cheese Sticks
• Nuts
• Carrots and Celery with Peanut Butter
• Granola Bars
• Trail Mix
• Yogurt

Hydration for the Win

When it comes down to hydrating your child, water is great but you can always do better on the field!

I prefer to give Addi BODYARMOR sports drinks, which provide her with a more natural drink than some of the other leading sports drink brands. Plus, it ensures that she is getting the hydration she needs while she is out on the field!

Made with coconut water, and packed with the electrolytes and nutrients she needs, BODYARMOR keeps her hydrated while I cheer her on. It is also made using natural flavors and sweeteners and no colors from artificial sources, so I know she is only getting the good stuff.

Not to mention, I can pick  BODYARMOR Sports Drink at my local Sam’s Club or Walmart! (Click HERE to save on your next purchase at Walmart or check out your local Sam’s Club before 9/16 to save $4 on the 20ct Variety Pack!). BODYARMOR Sports Drink comes in 12 great flavors including Fruit Punch, Orange Mango, Mixed Berry, Watermelon Strawberry and more! The hydration it provides your kiddo is a great way to support your young athlete on the field! 

Show Up and Cheer On

One of the biggest ways you are able to support your young athlete is to show up!

Games, practices, competitions, parades. Your kids seeing you at these events, and seeing your engagement shows you support them. Plus builds their confidence both on and off the field!

Yes, I know you may feel like you have more important things to do than sit through another Little League game. But to your kids mama, that little league game is the only thing.

When you are absolutely not able to attend events, do your best to ensure there is someone in your tribe there to support your kiddo. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, older siblings, or even family friends. The fact that your kiddo has someone on the sidelines cheering them on can make a world of difference.

Practice, Practice, Practice

Practice doesn’t just happen at assigned practice times.

Practice needs to happen at home too. And practicing with your kids is a great way to support your young athlete. Plus, practicing is a great way to build confidence, memories, and even your workout schedule! (Yep, I am totally counting those laps ran with my kid as my workout for the week. No shame.)

Another important place to practice that should not be overlooked, is practicing your kiddo’s sportsmanship on the way to the game. Make sure they know that it is okay to lose, as long as you play your hardest. Remind them how to take a loss with grace. Encourage them to build up the other players on their team. It can go a long, long way mama.

Positive Attitudes all Around

You have always been told that having a positive attitude goes a long way, right?

Well when it comes to supporting your young athlete, the rules are no different.

From the way you cheer your kiddo and their team on on the field, to the way you talk about the coach and the ref once you leave, your child is taking in all of it. If your demeanor is full of negativity and trash talk, they are going to absorb that and reflect it in the way they play.

On the other hand, if you keep a positive attitude, and reflect the positive aspects of the game, (even when you don’t agree with the ref’s call) your child will push that positivity back out in the way they perform.

Crazy Mom Talk

At the end of the day mama, supporting your young athlete can be the difference in your child pursuing a sport, and dropping it.

If they are not feeling like someone has their back, they are likely to give up. We hate it when we see our kids getting to that point, which means that providing support for them while they are in the game is essential.

You will find additional ways to support your own young athlete. (Please, PLEASE come back and share them with a mama! I am always looking for new ways to give my kiddo a boost!) Hopefully this list at least gives you a starting point in your venture into kids sports.

Have a tip you didn’t see here? Let me know in the comments section below!