049: How to be the Parent of an Elite Athlete

Being A Parent versus Being A Parent Of An Athlete When we become parents it is often a culture shock. We don’t get that all-important and often joked about handbook telling us how to behave and how to do it right. And yes being a parent can be a little bit hit-and-miss, learning along the way, always vowing to do it better the next time. When we add into that mix (which can already feel a bit sketchy) the parenting of an elite athlete... ... whose career is on the line ... immersed in a highly competitive environment during their years when they are still forming their own minds ... with multiple people outside the family unit heavily influencing your child’s emotional development. It can be incredibly volatile and a little unnerving. Having worked with thousands of athletes and their families as I have been building my mind coaching practice, I have learnt that being the parent of an athlete is just as important as being a parent, even their coach. It requires the same level of knowledge and role defining to be successful. And so this episode of Brain in the Game is to help give parents (and I am talking to myself now too)  a clearer, more structured approach to the pivotal support role of a child’s sporting career. So lock yourself away for the next 45 minutes and get ready for some self analysis as we learn together what it takes to be the parent of an elite athlete.

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