If I were to ask you if sports help build good character, you (like most people) would quickly say “yes.” But think about this for a moment.  Think about how some pro athletes get arrested for all sorts of crimes and misdemeanors. Recall stories of irate parents screaming at referees or judges or – their own kids! Make note of athletes who pout when they don’t win.  And the list can go on and on.

 The truth is, sports don’t build character – people build character!  Of course it’s the job of a parent to help form good character in their children and it’s the job of a coach to encourage and model good sportsmanship. 

I have long believed that sport psychology skills are actually life skills and if more cheerleading coaches systematically integrated sport psychology techniques their jobs would be easier! 

Think about it – a cheerleader must not only master a skill or a set of skills, he or she also has to learn how to control emotion in the face of all sorts of challenges.  It’s the same in life – we all must master a set of skills and manage our emotions in the face of stress and potential adversity. 

A good coach and a helpful parent see cheerleading as an opportunity for a child to confront challenges that will help her learn critical lessons about the world and herself!  

Everything that sport psychology offers specifically addresses these issues in a variety of ways.   

For example, cheerleaders can be taught:  

• How to assess their performances in an objective (no-drama) fashion
• How to set up performance and process goals that keep their training on track
• How to develop laser focus and manage distractions
• How to develop and maintain composure under pressure
• How to keep it all in perspective and to remember to have fun!

This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 20th, 2010 at 11:17 pm by Dr. Pam and is filed under Coaching, mental game. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.