Originally aired in April 2020.

Enjoyment is a key part of sticking with sports. Especially for youth athletes, finding happiness and fulfillment in the game is crucial to their motivation to attend practice every day and put in their best work. This week, coach and blogger Erica Suter shares ideas for helping youth athletes take joy in the process because if they care about playing, they’ll keep coming back.

One way to help kids have fun is by letting them explore. Increasingly, children are being encouraged to specialize in a single sport, with the goal of becoming a professional or earning a college scholarship.

But, Suter says, kids are better athletes when they have the flexibility to try new things and grow themselves in different ways. As parents, this could mean letting kids play multiple sports or getting them involved in other activities and skills, such as strength and conditioning. “Build the human first,” Suter says. Then, focus on the player.

What You’ll Learn:

• Practice having a growth mindset

• Build healthy habits for long-term change

• Take breaks to prevent burnout

• Set short-term goals

• Create a reflection journal