Balancing Academics and Athletics: Tips for Parents of Young Athletes

You want your child to be successful in all aspects of life, but that can be challenging. Student athletes need to spend a significant amount of time on athletics and a lot of time studying to thrive in both areas. Chances are, your student athlete will need help finding a balance between the two main aspects of their lives while still having time for friends and family. That’s where you come in. Here are some ways you can help your child achieve a balance between school and sports. 

Develop Time Management Skills

All students can benefit from learning time management skills, but it’s especially important for those who need to balance their academic lessons with extracurricular activities. Your student athlete may become overwhelmed when it’s the peak of the sports season and they see their homework piling up. Work with them to create a schedule that gives them plenty of time for schoolwork, sports practice and rest. 

Help Them Set Academic Goals

Student athletes often become so focused on their athletic goals that the academic ones fall by the wayside. Work with your child to set academic goals so they can stay on track in school. Encourage them to set goals that are realistic to reach but challenging enough that they need to work to attain them. This is an important part of creating balance.

Foster Open Communication

When your child needs someone to talk to, it’s important for them to know that you’re there. Balancing schedules between school and extracurricular activities can be overwhelming. It can be even more difficult to admit that they’ve taken on too much and need to take a break. Keeping the lines of communication open will give your child comfort when they need to go to you as a resource. 

Set Aside Time for Rest

Everyone needs to rest and recover, and when you have a busy schedule, rest can be hard to come by. Schedule time for rest so that your child can go back to giving it their all in the classroom and on the field. This may mean stopping them when they insist they just need one more hour of practice or one more hour to study. 

Celebrate All Accomplishments

Your ambitious child may struggle to see their smaller wins while working toward the big ones. Make sure to celebrate all of their accomplishments, from acing a difficult test to helping the team score points during a game. Keep them motivated throughout the season, and be there for them when things don’t go their way. It’s important for your child to know that they have your support, no matter how the season’s going.

At North Tampa Christian Academy, we believe parents play a major role in helping student athletes succeed. Students at our Tampa private school thrive creatively, academically and spiritually in a project-based learning environment. Faculty and families work together to inspire leadership through Christian innovation. Contact us today to learn more.

5 Benefits of Playing Youth Sports

Sports bring people together, especially when it’s their children playing. Many children form their fondest memories while on the court or the field with their peers. Playing team sports gives them the opportunity to learn important life skills while bonding with others who have similar interests. Here are a few of the main benefits of playing youth sports. 

Teamwork

They say “teamwork makes the dream work,” and that’s especially true for young athletes. Teamwork encompasses many elements of sportsmanship, from friendly competition among teammates to working toward a collective goal. Along with learning to work with their peers, student athletes learn how to interact with coaches and captains. This also helps them build important social skills.

Social Skills

Students meet people from diverse backgrounds with varying interests and personalities through athletics. Players need to be able to communicate effectively with everyone around them, from teammates and coaches to adoring fans. Sports put children into social situations that they won’t experience anywhere else, so they get plenty of practice dealing with different social dynamics. 

Self-Confidence

Children often feel pressured to impress everyone around them, from their parents and teachers to their peers. As part of a team, they can be proud of personal achievements as well as those the team makes. Each athlete contributes to setting and meeting the goals of the team. Being part of a team builds confidence for the players, and shows each player the importance of building others up and reaching their personal goals.

Leadership

Learning to lead is an important part of team sports. Everyone on the team carries the responsibility of each win or loss. If one person isn’t on time, refuses to practice or doesn’t want to work alongside others, it brings the whole team down. Joining a sports team also gives children the opportunity to try out for leadership roles, like being team captain. While playing sports, children also learn skills like how to compromise and empathize with others, which helps them be better team players and, ultimately, better leaders.

Focus on Health

With technology being such a pervasive part of our lives, most children simply do not get enough exercise. Being on a youth sports team shows children the importance of nutrition, rest and regular exercise. It also helps them control their weight and reduce their overall body fat. Keeping up with healthy habits allows children to build muscles and maintain healthy bones and joints, building a foundation for lifelong health. 

Our school offers several sports programs through community partnerships and school-sponsored teams. At North Tampa Christian Academy, a Tampa private school, students thrive creatively, academically and spiritually in a project-based learning environment. Faculty and families work together to inspire leadership through Christian innovation. Contact us today to learn more.

How Sports Bring People Together

People around the world of all ages and backgrounds enjoy sports. From cheering on teams in the World Cup to celebrating our favorite athletic heroes in the Olympics, sports create an atmosphere of pride, an appreciation for athleticism, and a togetherness that’s hard to top.Sports bring schools and workplaces together, building a sense of community between strangers. But why exactly are we so obsessed with sporting events? Here are a few reasons why it’s more than “throwing a ball around:” 

They’re Family Friendly Events

Most sports, whether you’re playing or spectating, can be fun for the whole family. People of all ages come together to cheer on their favorite team or players. Watching sports together allows families to bond over mutual interests. Many games have teachable moments (one of our favorites is when two collegiate runners helped an injured runner cross the finish line), so parents can use this time to teach children life lessons.

We’re Unified in Collective Physical Activity

When looking for something for the family to do, you may end up defaulting to watching movies or eating out. However, there’s nothing quite like getting the neighborhood together for a round of football or playing basketball with some friends at a local court. Playing sports allows the whole family to exercise together while getting some sun. It’s also a great way to bond with one another. Wherever your child’s passions lie, see if they want to invite friends or neighbors to join in on the fun.

It Inspires Us to Improve Our Health 

As long as athletes play safely, sports can improve physical and mental health. Athletes build healthy bones, joints and muscles and often have better heart and lung health. Exercising regularly can also help relieve stress by releasing endorphins. Children who play sports learn about discipline, leadership and social skills early on in life, which can get them ahead of their peers. Athletes also develop self-confidence as they learn new skills and eventually master them. Even just watching a sport can inspire someone to get up and get active like their favorite players. The health benefits of playing sports leads to more positive interactions, which can help children become productive members of their communities.

They Help Us Find Community

Becoming a fan of a sports star or team gives you an instant community. That can be your child’s school, your state, or even the entire country. Whether the team is good or bad, everyone feels like part of the team’s successes and failures. The whole community cheers together when the team is up and comforts one another when they’re down. Watching games up close or from afar, you can feel the community’s collective energy.

North Tampa Christian Academy has a variety of sports programs and partnerships to give students the opportunity to join great communities and work toward health goals. At our Tampa private school, students thrive creatively, academically and spiritually in a project-based learning environment. Faculty and families work together to inspire leadership through Christian innovation. Contact us today to learn more.