Perhaps the most significant challenge for coaches is to inspire junior athletes to play as a team. As children and young adults are still developing their physical, mental and emotional capabilities, a careful approach is required to keep them engaged in their sporting journey. When they enjoy the training process, improvement happens naturally, their self-esteem increases and there is an eternal love for the sport.
- Make training interactive
Ensuring that training is fun is key to keeping young sportspeople motivated. Long-term goals are always in mind for adults, but it’s little different with children because, for them, real-time joy and satisfaction are what they’re interested in. A playful environment can be encouraged, making them participate consistently and keeping their interest alive.
- Incorporate games into training
Introducing fun games into a junior athletics training programme is an excellent approach. Eelays, obstacle courses or skill-based games like playing tag with a ball or dribbling challenges turn standard drills into enjoyable events. Games promote competition in good spirits and teamwork, which are essential for bonding and social interaction among the group members.
- Offer variety
Repetition can quickly become monotonous, so mixing the types of exercises and activities is important. An excellent training course may include strength exercises, agility drills, endurance challenges and skills practice. Change the routine by rotating different activities introducing new drills involving different muscle groups, or building various skills. The more varied the training, the less likely it is that youngsters will lose interest.
- Celebrate creativity
Challenge young people to think creatively about preparation. Whether letting them design their own drill, warm-up or cool-down routine, or getting them to lead a part of the session, allowing children to contribute to their training will make them feel involved and excited about the process. When they feel a sense of ownership, they tend to become more oriented towards their own progress.
Establishing personal goals
Goal setting represents the best motivational tool for most people, but they must be clear, realistic and appropriate to the stage of development. As a result, if an athlete writes unattainable or vague goals, frustration and even disengagement may ensue. Set personal goals that genuinely interest the athlete and can be achieved with dedication and effort.
- Emphasis on short-term goals
While long-term objectives are important, short-term goals keep them motivated immediately. Set weekly or monthly objectives that the young athlete could see right away. For instance, a short-term objective could be “to decrease sprint time by 0.5 seconds over the next two weeks” or “increase free throw shooting by 5%”. Youngsters will strive to be better through constant improvement.
- Set measurable goals
Incorporate measurable values, including distance, time, repetitions or accuracy. Specific metrics give an athlete the sense of hitting a target and showing improvement. It is what a young person needs to be invested in the sport and to see visible proof of their hard work.
- Recognise milestones
Recognition and celebration are part of the package in reaching a goal. Whether it is a high-five, a shout-out during practice, or more formal rewards such as earning a special jersey, celebrating success reinforces positive behaviours, while keeping athletes looking forward to their next achievement. Be sure that even minimal milestones are marked as these victories build momentum and confidence.
Introduce a reward system
Rewards are always a good motivator and they are best applied strategically. The key is to reward efforts and progress rather than the result itself. The reward system that emphasises efforts, teamwork and personal improvement develops a growth mindset as athletes learn to appreciate the process of working hard and developing their abilities.
- Emphasise effort over outcome
They may rarely win the race, score as many goals or top the leaderboard, but if they have put in strenuous efforts, that must be recognised. Rewarding a young athlete for their dogged efforts and determination, despite less-than-perfect results will teach them that success is achieved only through hard work and practice. This will keep them going even during difficult moments.
- Give team-based rewards
The efforts of a team should be rewarded to encourage athletes to work in teams and complement each other. This could be in the form of a reward for the team, like a special practice session or pizza party when they achieve a particular group target. Team-based rewards go a long way in enforcing camaraderie and collective responsibility to achieve success.
- Provide intangible benefits
Tangible rewards mean trophies, certificates and the like. However, perhaps the best non-tangible rewards will be words of praise, leading warm-ups, or being called “athlete of the day.” This is a characteristic of leadership, effort and sportsmanship that might inspire athletes not only to train their bodies but also to get to know more about themselves.
Keeping junior athletes engaged requires an integrated process that includes fun, creativity, goal-setting and positive reinforcement. Parents and coaches can make training fun, set personal goals and recognise the effort they put into encouraging young athletes who are excited to learn, improve and remain committed to their sporting journey.
If you live in Mornington and wish to boost your child’s athletic performance, consider joining a Mornington Fitness studio which offers a specialised junior athletics training programme to build strength and agility in young athletes.