An interesting and useful way of thinking about the development of the young athlete has been proposed by Jon Hellstedt. Because it is impossible to look at the development of the young athlete without also taking into account the changes experienced by the parents and siblings, Hellstedt looks at the development of the young athlete as an issue for the entire family.
In the model Hellstedt has developed, he describes three main stages of development for the typical family with youth athletes: Phase One (Exploration), Phase Two (Commitment), and Phase Three (Proficiency).
Overview
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Most important stage of the athletic family�s development, usually occurring between ages 4 and 12
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Child tries different sports, explores his or her skills
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Ages are only guides
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In some sports, like gymnastics, children tend to be very young when they get involved competitively,
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In other sports, like cross-country skiing, athletes are usually much older when they reach a competitive level
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Child may experience several cycles of development in different sports (e.g. play soccer at 5, tennis at 7, track at 13).
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Problem Areas
Bad experiences with sports at an early age can turn an individual away from sports involvement forever. The two
main culprits leading to bad experiences for children are:
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Overemphasis on competition. The best way for a good young athlete to progress is not to introduce him to competition as soon as possible. Competition can hinder talent development because at in higher-level competitive leagues, children often to have to sit on the bench to allow other children to play. The child cannot learn and develop from sitting on the bench and would be better served by participating in activities that keep him involved.
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Bad coaching. Good coaching is obviously important for the development of athletic skills. As sport psychologists like Ron Smith and Frank Smoll have found, the better coaches help keep children interested in a sport. Children are more likely to keep playing for good coaches. There is no chance for a gifted athlete to develop her talents if she drops out of a sport. Good coaches promote talent development by promoting continued participation.
