On Wednesday, Dec. 3, Momentum Fit hosted a seminar for parents of student athletes in grades four through 12. A panel of local coaches and former athletes spoke and answered questions about how to raise resilient student athletes today.
The panel included Danny Witt, Marie Merritt and Robin Mignerey. Witt, who is a UNF hall-of-famer, founded Witt Tennis is 2014. He has worked with some of the best tennis players in the world. Merritt is a former D1 soccer player and certified personal trainer and wellness coach. She has worked with professional athletes for 20 years. Mignerey is a Clemson hall-of-famer and award-winning volleyball coach. Each panelist had insightful and helpful information for parents regarding how to better support their children.
Christina Cush, president of Cush Communications, led the discussion by asking how to guide children in picking their sport.
Witt emphasized that it’s good for kids to try different sports and be well-rounded.
“Too many kids specialize too early,” he said. Sports should be fun, first and foremost.
Mignerey and Merritt warned against burnout and talked about the importance of balance and rest.
When asked if parents should stay and watch practice, Merritt said that parents can be there but should not start coaching. Instead of critiquing kids after a practice or game, it would be more helpful for parents to ask kids what makes them feel supported. Witt and Mignerey agreed that boundaries are good and helpful for both parents and children.
Next, the panel discussed the importance of rest and time management. Merritt shared some of the signs of burnout to look out for. She said that kids experiencing burnout are likely to have no energy, more mood swings and need more sleep. She said that sleep hygiene is critical for resting and recovering.
Mignerey said that it’s important for kids to have other things going on besides sports. If all they do is practice, they will get tired of it. It’s crucial for kids to spend time with friends and have other hobbies.
Witt suggested taking a rest day at least once a week to improve recovery time.
Handling losses is something that everyone deals with.
“You have to realize that you’re going to lose a lot more than you’re going to win,” Witt said. Mignerey said that kids are going to struggle when they lose, but parents need to be there to help them through failure.
The discussion closed with how to help kids with next steps and what life lessons they can learn from athletics.
Mignerey said sports teach kids values, time management and teamwork. Merritt said that kids will learn to fail and that it’s not the end of the world. Witt added that kids learn how to be humble and support their teammates.
The seminar was a success and parents walked away with plenty of tips for how to better support their children in athletics.
