PARENT/GUARDIAN RESOURCES

PARENT/GUARDIAN RESOURCES

Sports, especially at a competitive level, can add another layer of stress to the lives of teens. There’s balancing the time commitment between school and sports, as well as the pressure, disappointment, and social scrutiny that can come with competition: losing, not making a team, having your plays shared and sometimes criticized on social media, trying to earn scholarships, and more.

As the caregiver of a teen athlete, your support can help them understand their feelings and feel valued and cared for. You can provide a safe space to work through all the inevitable emotions of life and competition. Of course, they may not immediately take advantage of it. Any parent of a teen knows that, “fine” is often the go-to answer when we ask how practice went or how they are feeling. That may leave you feeling frustrated and confused. How can you help your teen athlete if they won’t talk?

Schedules, time constraints, and moods can add to the challenge, making it feel impossible to find the right time to broach difficult topics. Know that there is no perfect time, and it isn’t a one-time conversation. Small interactions can be every bit as meaningful, especially for providing consistent connection and support so they will rely on you when the bigger moments come.

Here are 12 tips for talking to your teen athlete about their mental health.

1. Be Genuine
2. Connect Over the Sport Your Teen Enjoys
3. Provide Effort-Based Feedback
4. Check in With Your Athlete
5. Get Comfortable with Silence
6. Share Observations and Ask Open-Ended Questions
7. Take Your Teen Seriously
8. Use a Simple Rating Scale
9. Offer Other Support Systems and Share Crisis Resources
10. Don’t Push
11. Stay Open and Calm
12. Keep the Conversation Going

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