How To Support Children To Enjoy A Positive Relationship With Sport
Gordon MacLelland is the CEO and founder of Working with Parents in Sport (WWPIS).
Gordon has a background in education and coaching and after a successful career coaching all age groups from U7’s through to adults and running sports programmes in schools, he is now a leading figure in the ‘parental engagement’ space.
He is also the author of four books ,’Sports Performance Parenting’- which charts the entire sports parenting journey, ‘Two Hats’– a book for parent coaches who are coaching or thinking of coaching their own children, ‘Great Sports Parenting’– A pocket guide for parents of young children in sport and ‘Engage’– A coach’s guide to building positive relationships with parents.
In episode 289 of Demystifying Mental Toughness, the founder of Parents in Sport, Gordon MacLelland, shared his journey from having a promising sports career, to coaching and teaching to supporting parenting in sports. He emphasized the importance of understanding individual children’s motivations when considering their sporting experience. Also highlighted were the challenges of balancing fun and competitive pressures. The conversation underscored the importance of self-awareness as a parent and being an intentional in the love and support that you offer your children, as a parent in sports, whilst accepting that you and your child are human.
Additionally, David and Gordon stress the benefits of participating in sports on child’s character and mental toughness development, over winning, and the need for realistic expectations.
Key Learning Points:
- Understand your child’s motivations for playing sports and why they do it.
- Have regular check-ins with your child to understand how their motivations may change over time.
- Avoid asking questions like “Did you win?” or “Were you the best?” and instead focus on character traits with questions such as “When were you brave?” or statements “I noticed how you bounced back positively after your team lost the first goal by the way you were calling for the ball.
- Be mindful of the timing and approach when having difficult conversations with your child about their sports performance.
- Recognize that success in sports should not be solely defined by performance outcomes, and focus on the wider benefits of participation.
Connect with Gordon MacLelland
Connect with David Charlton
Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub
Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIN
Useful Youth Sport Psychology Resource
Youth Sport Motivation Checklist
Parental Sport Motivation Checklist
Podcast Episodes To Encourage A Positive Sporting Experience For Children
Ep288: Duncan O’Brien – How To Overcome Intense Emotions From Football
Ep285: Adam Batstone – Football Coaches: How To Help Neurodiverse Players Thrive
Ep280: Colm O’Donoghue – How To Help A Young Golfer Who Struggles Playing Strokeplay
Ep279: Ger Fitzgerald – How To Help A Young Cricketer Overcome Selection Difficulties
Ep233: David Charlton – How To Help A Young Footballer Overcome Fear
Relevant Resources To Encourage A Positive Sporting Experience For Children
Blog – 5 Ways to Create a Psychological Safe Sporting Environment
Blog – 9 Tips for Children from Olympians
Blog – 5 Tips for Parents to Help their Children Perform with Confidence
Blog – How to Help Young Footballers Find the Zone
Click the button below to join The Sports Psychology Hub a Facebook group that David hosts to help ambitious athletes, serious sport coaches, sporting parents, sports psychologists and mental game coaches to support each other.
IF YOU ENJOYED TODAY'S SHOW PLEASE SHARE
SUBSCRIBE AND LISTEN ON YOUR FAVOURITE AUDIO PLATFORM
Also, kindly consider taking the 60-seconds it takes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, they’re extremely helpful when it comes to the ranking of the show and we read every single one of them!
Best Wishes
David Charlton
Global Sports Psychologist who is located near Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK and willing to travel Internationally. David also uses online video conferencing software (Zoom, Facetime, WhatsApp) on a regular basis and has clients who he has supported in USA, Canada, South America, UAE, Australia and New Zealand.
Managing Director – Inspiring Sporting Excellence and Founder of The Sports Psychology Hub. With over 15 years experience supporting athletes, coaches, parents and teams to achieve their goals, quickly.
T: +44 7734 697769
