1) Encourage Quality Sleep

 Sleep is one of the biggest factors in an athlete's performance. Your athlete should get between 7 and 10 hours of sleep per night. Watching TikToks, playing video games, talking on FaceTime, etc. are common ways athletes wreck their sleep schedule. You can help combat that by... a) Having open discussions with them about THEIR goals and how things, like quality sleep, that can help them achieve them. b) removing Televisions from bedrooms. c) setting time limits on WiFi services to shut off after a certain time. Now, as you can see, these options are increasingly aggressive, but they are all effective. Best case scenario, you'll just remind them of their goals and they'll keep themselves on track.

2) Keep them Hydrated

Hydration is crucial for Athletic success. Small drops in hydration status lead to BIG drops in performance. Make sure that your athlete has water and/or sports drinks available and encourage them to drink water frequently. P.S. Coffee, Red Bull, Monster, Bang, etc are NOT proper hydration options. They don't count.

3) Provide Nutritious Meals

Nutrition is key in health and performance. Athletes need the right fuel sources to grow, have energy and compete to the best of their ability. The 3 Macronutrients are Protein, Carbs and Fats. Protein helps to build and maintain muscle. Carbs give them energy to Sprint, Jump, Lift Weights and Cognitive (Brain) Function. Fats give them energy for daily tasks (i.e. walking, sleeping, sitting, etc.). Prioritize Protein and Carbs in their diet to help them build. P.S. You don't need to be Gordon Ramsey to help your athlete nutritionally. You just need to be aware of what they're putting in their bodies. P.P.S. If you've got a tight budget, I understand. When you get your groceries, choose options like Chicken, Pork and Beef over Steak, Bison and Venison.

4) Recap their experience

There are differences between listening, providing feedback and lecturing. Immediately after a training session, practice or competition is an opportunity to listen and learn about their experiences through their eyes. Ask questions to learn, not to steer the conversation.

5) Encourage Them

Every individual experiences situations differently. Because of that, you may never know where their head is at. Do your best to provide support verbally, emotionally and in anyway that you can. At the end of the day, they're chasing their dream. Seeing them achieve it is the most that any parent could ask for. Wouldn't you agree?

6) Invest in Training

Every athlete develops at a different pace... Some faster than others. Training is a great way to kickstart an athlete's development and prepare them for athletic success. EVERY athlete can benefit from quality training. Yes, even the naturally gifted and the elite ones. If your athlete isn't already All-Conference, All-State or an All-American, training is a smart move to help them get to the next level.

If you're interested in investing in quality speed and performance training for your athlete, Click Here to get started!