The London Olympics were a spectacle that provided drama night after night for two weeks. As sports fans turned their attention to the Olympics, the stories and personal histories of Olympians came to light. These stories serve as inspiration for many young athletes hopeful of one day representing their country and standing on the podium.
As NBC telecasters highlighted the drama of the London Olympics the emotions of Americans, even those that do not watch sports normally, are stirred. One group paying close to attention to the Olympics not just for the drama but also to learn about how they might help their children be successful is sport parents.
Using stories of Olympians and their families as inspiration is natural. What may be less appropriate is what many parents catch every two years – “five-ring fever” (so named for the five Olympic rings). They convince themselves that if they simply push their children harder — by increasing practice hours, by increasing practice intensity before their children have developed appropriate skill sets, and by pressuring their children to win above all else — that their child can achieve the same Olympic glory that plays out each night in mid-summer.
The reality is that the emotion of the Olympics can easily distort reality, convincing many parents that their children can become Olympians, and cause them to push their children to unhealthy levels of sport involvement at an early age. To counteract some of these tendencies, and to prevent “five-ring fever” from clouding the judgment of sport parents, ISYS experts were featured in several articles dispelling the myths that surround talent development.
Here’s a sampling…
- Sport psychologists extend counseling to athletes and coaches. Scientific American, HuffingtonPost.com.
- Mental side of sports: It’s not just for Olympians. SportsIllustrated.com
- Psychological preparation is the key to Olympic performance. Health News Digest
- 2012 (August 4). Interview with Dan Gould. “Olympic parents.” CBS Radio.
- 2012 (July 22). Interview Article: Barnas, J. “Catch the spirit of the Olympic Games.” Detroit Free Press.
- 2012 (July 6). Interview with Dan Gould. “Psychological influences on Olympic performance.” Asia News Channel, Singapore.
- 2012 (June 10). Young athletes worst pain can be parents. Indystar.com
Contact:
Dr. Larry Lauer, Media Contact, Institute for the Study of Youth Sports, Michigan State University
lauerl@msu.edu
517-353-5395