Your Child Athlete's Attire

Spring is here, and your child athlete is playing on a new soccer, lacrosse, hockey, or baseball team. Do they need the optional team shorts or sweatsuit? Do they need a matching bag or new equipment? Where do you draw the line?

Many of us ask ourselves these questions in the beginning of a new sports season. The good news is that most of our children are in the same position. At the beginning of a season, many child athletes are starting out on newly formed athletic teams. Even if a team isn't new, there are always some changes to the roster when a new season begins.

Although it can get costly, we have occasionally bought our children the little extras that come with being part of a team. No, they don't need another t-shirt, but a team t-shirt can make your child proud. It's good to give our children that feeling of importance, but remember that you need to buy every item available.

We have interviewed many high-level athletes, and the bottom line for many of them is team work and learning to be part of a team. Team work is on the field, but should transfer over to off the field. If the team wears matching blue socks or carries purple bags, then go ahead, and teach your child that it's fun to join in.

Preparing Your Child for Tryouts

As we head into the spring, many of our children will be trying out for travel teams in various sports, including soccer, baseball, and even hockey. How do you prepare your child for tryouts? Should you prepare your child for tryouts?

With our three children we look for the following signs to determine if they're ready to tryout for travel teams:

• Your child shows a desire to tryout for a travel team. This includes the child specifically requesting to tryout.
• Your child works hard in their sport; therefore, advancing to a higher level team is a good idea.
• Your child is talented in a sport. Keep in mind if they are talented, then you want to make sure they are challenged by putting them on the appropriate level team.

Tips on preparing your child for tryouts:

• Make your child aware that they will have to work hard at a tryout to earn a position on a team.
• Let your child know that if the put forward one-hundred percent effort and don't make the team, it's OK. Effort is the key.
• Tell your child that whether they make a team or not, it's important to set goals and to keep trying to earn a spot on a team. It might just take another year of practice to earn a spot on a travel team, and children need to follow their passions and work hard to get where they want to be.

In interviewing high-level athletes, almost all of the athletes stress the importance of applying one-hundred percent effort in sports. Most of these athletes are impressed by a not so talented player who exerts one-hundred percent effort.

Let your child know that you support them. Encourage your child. And, most importantly, have your child follow their passions in sports.