How To Grow Passion In Your Youth Athlete
What Does it look like?
How To Grow Passion In Your Youth Athlete? Athletes with a high level of passion typically derive immense satisfaction and fulfillment from their sport, which leads or can lead to extraordinary achievements. Think Michael Jordan, Tom Brady, or Caitlin Clark. In this USA Today article, Clark talks about the passion she had even at 6-years old, saying that she would cry after every game her team lost. The newly crowned All-Time NCAA Scoring champ, went on to say, “{Even at 6} It mattered to me.”
In youth athletes, passion might manifest as constantly wanting to play and practice, watching college and professional games, continually having a ball in their hand, thinking about and talking about sports often, and being obsessed with everything about that sport. It’s often defined as an activity that is meaningful and important to the self and in which people invest a considerable amount of time (Vallerand, 2015; Vallerand et al., 2003).
Passion can take different routes
I was passionate about basketball, I had a ball in my hand in every family video or at least you could hear me dribbling it in the background. I played pickup games every day after I finished my homework until the sun went down and practiced my shot in my bed at night, working on the rotation over and over. I stopped playing my second year in college and never looked back. I enjoy basketball, but I’m no longer passionate about it. In my experience with my own daughters, I have seen what I thought was passion turn out to be a passing interest, I have witnessed a joy and love for a sport that continues to grow, and I have seen passion exist almost from the first exposure. All are different, all have value.
Passionate athletes will be happier and more successful than their counterparts.
Research has shown that our brain’s reward system plays a critical role in the experience of passion. When we engage in activities that we are passionate about, our brain releases dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and motivation. This reinforces the behavior and creates a positive feedback loop, making us want to continue pursuing our passion. Additional studies have also found that individuals passionate about their pursuits tend to experience higher levels of flow – a state of complete absorption and immersion in an activity where time seems to fly by. This is due to the activation of the prefrontal cortex, responsible for executive functions and attention, which allows individuals to focus completely on their passion without distractions.
The parent’s role in harmonious vs. obsessive passion
If your child is passionate about sports, it’s important to encourage their passion in a healthy way.
In a recent article in Applied Psychology, that inspired this article, the author, Alexis Stokes, takes a deep dive into this topic. I highly recommend this article if you have a passionate athlete. In it, she shares this important observation. When athletes feel supported and capable in their environment, their needs are likely fulfilled, and Harmonious Passion is fostered. However, when athletes feel controlled, undervalued, and unable to communicate openly in their environments, they experience a lack of need fulfillment, and Obsessive Passion can develop (Mageau et al., 2009; Stokes et al., 2022).
Is having fun and being passionate the same thing?
While passion and enjoyment are interconnected, they serve distinct roles. Enjoyment is the immediate pleasure derived from an activity, characterized by feelings of happiness and satisfaction in the moment. It often lacks the intensity and long-term commitment associated with passion. In contrast, passion involves a profound, enduring desire to engage in an activity or pursuit, often accompanied by a willingness to invest significant time and effort. A passionate individual enjoys and deeply values the activity, consistently seeking to improve and excel, even in the face of challenges and setbacks.
What if my kid isn’t passionate, can they still compete at a high level?
Athletes can succeed in sports and have a great experience without being passionate about their sport. Many even go on to play in college and at the professional level. Still, an athlete not passionate about their sport may not be truly fulfilled while playing and may want to consider finding additional interests they are passionate about to compliment their other activities.
Some of the greatest athletes in the world may not have been passionate
Check out this article from BleacherReport.com, in it they list several famous athletes who famously don’t seem to be passionate about their sport. Tennis phenom Serena Williams on said, “I don’t love tennis today but I am here—I can’t live without it so I am still here. It was never that I have fallen out of love with it—I have actually never liked sports. I have never understood how I became an athlete—I don’t like working out. Anything that involves sitting down or shopping I am excellent at that.” Or Former Tottenham professional footballer Assou-Ekotto. “It’s only a job. Yes, it’s a good, good job and I don’t say that I hate football but it’s not my passion.”
Can you make your child passionate about sports?
No parent, coach, or friend can ‘make’ an athlete passionate about something they aren’t. Passion comes from within, period. But parents do play an important role in finding, growing, and nurturing a passion or squashing it. Keep reading.
Parents can play a significant role in helping kids find their passion.
Expose your kids to everything. Encourage them to try different sports and activities often. Don’t get stuck on the first sport you signed them up for at age five or a sport they happen to be good at. Help them discover what they are passionate about. Talk to them about their goals, ask them what THEY want to do and where they see themselves in the future. Ask them what they are doing when they lose track of time. If nothing comes up for them yet, keep taking them out into the world to try and see new things, or if you don’t have the time and money, YouTube has information and videos on thousands of activities, jobs, and special interests. Most importantly, have honest and open communication; they may love coding, art, or theater and haven’t had time to try it because of sports.
Ultimately, parents and coaches have the power to either nurture a passion or interest or squash it.
The key lies in nurturing the child’s natural interest and promoting well-rounded development rather than hyper-focusing on a single pursuit.
It’s all about the environment you create. Be their unwavering pillar of support, but be mindful of the pressure that can unwittingly seep in. Make it crystal clear that your support knows no conditions or strings attached. Whether they win or lose, your love remains steady.
Additionally, remember the power of affirmation and encouragement. Recognize their efforts, their growth, and their milestones. Avoid dwelling on shortcomings or punishing poor performance. By highlighting their achievements, no matter how small, you instill confidence and nurture their love for the sport.
Coaches have a profound role to play as well. Understand that your coaching style can directly impact your athletes’ passion and overall experience. Communicate openly, provide constructive feedback without undue criticism, and remember to value them beyond their performance alone.
Passion and love in sports is a journey; as parents and coaches, you have the incredible opportunity to guide and shape that journey. Your influence can create a world where young athletes thrive, not only in their chosen sport but also in their personal growth and well-being.
More articles you might enjoy:
The Unseen Consequences of Parental Pressure in Youth Sports