My Dad Did What??? 3 Ways Fathers Can Impact Their Student Athlete Child
This is for the fathers of student athletes.
(Or, if you are a student athlete, share this with your father)
Today, we will talk about:
3 Ways Fathers Can Impact Their Student Athlete Child
In my opinion,
Fathers are the most influential role models in the lives of student athletes.
Even more than their coaches.
Even more than their favorite superstars on TV.
In my opinion, fathers are the most influential role models in the lives of student athletes.
Disclaimer:
I AM NOT A FATHER!!!
However, I was a student athlete and I have coached many student athletes over the years.
And the three traits we will talk about today are what I respected about my dad as well as the fathers of the student athletes I have coached.
1. Promote a variety of activities for your child to participate in
Growing up, my dad encouraged me to try out a variety of activities.
He encouraged me to play various sports like:
- Football
- Basketball
- Baseball
- Soccer
- Tennis
- Golf
He also encouraged me to try other activities outside of sports like:
- Woodworking in the shop
- Water skiing
- Guitar
By promoting a variety of activities for me to participate in,
My dad enabled me to discover what I was passionate about and see many opportunities Life was guiding me towards.
2. Encourage your child to expand their comfort zone
There was a period of my playing career when I was passive and timid.
I had great skill, was a hard worker, and an encouraging teammate, but my leadership was not there yet.
One day, as I was finishing a grueling basketball workout, drenched in sweat and exhausted, my dad said to me:
“Everyone wants a leader, yet very few are actually willing to be that leader.
I am not going to tell you to be that leader,
But if you do, it is completely your choice.
But YOU will need to be that leader.”
Once he said that, he flipped a switch inside me.
- I crushed the end of my workout
- I made the choice to be a leader
- I stepped into a leadership position
Rather than overtly tell me what to do,
(There were times he did try that tactic and I rebelled against what he said almost every time 🙂)
In this instance, my dad skillfully flipped a switch inside me,
That helped me to make my own decision to expand my comfort zone.
In turn, I stepped into a leadership position.
3. Be an example of a being of character
Perhaps the most powerful memory of my dad came outside of sports.
We were at a hospital for some medical complications I was dealing with.
One morning, I had an early appointment, probably around 6:00 AM.
We were staying at a hotel down the road from the hospital and we were walking to the hospital through the dark and cold morning during a blizzard.
I recall looking at my dad, briefcase in his hand, being pelted by the snow.
In that moment …
I respected him so much.
Here was a man who gave up everything for me.
Here was a man who took time off work to me with me.
Here was a man who was out in this cold blizzard to help find answers to make me healthy, to help find answers so I could have the vitality to live my dream.
In that moment, I thought to myself:
“That is someone I want to emulate someday!”
I wanted to emulate:
- His resilience
- His perseverance
- His willingness to give so much so someone can live their dream
And I had so much respect for him.
Rather than enforce his values and beliefs on me,
My dad was an example of a being of character,
And I wanted to one day exemplify those qualities as well.
3 Ways Fathers Can Impact Their Student Athlete Child
- Promote a variety of activities for your child to participate in
- Encourage your child to expand their comfort zone
- Be an example of a being of character
And when you embody these qualities,
Your child will respect you so much and want to make you proud.
Because, after all …
You are the role model they look up to most.
I wish you well on your journey of impacting your student athlete child, and I look forward to seeing you next week.
Inspiring YOU every step of your way,
Kyle
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