With the recently concluded Olympics and the news that most athletes win multi-million contracts, it is understandable how parents are now looking at signs of athletic talent in children. Your children could be in their teens or just be learning how to walk, but one thing is for sure. It pays to start early when you are looking to raise an athlete. There are signs that your child has athletic potential, and they go beyond just physical traits. Athletic ability signs are present in your child. It is just that you have not noticed them yet.
1. Coordination and agility
One of the most vital signs of athletic talent in children is coordination and agility. While motor skills development varies from one child to another, certain children just have the gift. These children tend to learn how to walk faster than the rest or attempt to lift their heads up well before the expected milestone age. This is not to say that athletes can’t be late walkers as toddlers, but it is a gift and a telling indicator of when a child develops fast in terms of motor skills. This also means that they are further developed than their peer once they are in school.
2. A Good Sense of Balance
Another good indicator of physical development in children is their sense of balance. A good sense of balance is a must in almost every sport, even in water sports. Some doctors might tell you that a child’s sense of balance is caused by their physical traits, while others might argue that balance can be learned and acquired. In any case, if your child naturally exhibits great balance, it indicates that he will not have a hard time learning the sport of his choice.
3. Competitiveness
In sports psychology, competitiveness is a main ingredient in any athlete. There is no sportsman or woman without the drive to win or at least do well. As your child enters school during the early years, you will begin to notice this trait more. If your son or daughter is very conscious about his grades in school, and if he shows the need to win in almost every game, it might be a sign that you need to learn more about raising an athlete. Of course, with great competitiveness must come good sportsmanship. Competitiveness is a sign that you might be raising a potential athlete, while good sportsmanship is a learned grace you must pass on as a parent.
4. Resilience
While it is impressive for a child to showcase great agility, balance, and coordination, one of the scariest things about being an athlete is losing. It is inevitable, though, because, in any sport, there are winners and losers. For a child to become successful as an athlete, he must exhibit natural resilience. He must not be afraid to fail, especially during training. There are very few of your children who show resilience from the very beginning, and you might miss out on these signs. The trick is not to help them out too early when they fail to do a small task or when they fall, literally. Observe your child if he cries when he falls down or if they quickly stand up and brush off the fall as if it never happened. A child who can do the latter naturally might just be a future athlete.
5. Leadership
While some leadership skills are acquired and learned through difficult experiences, some children have the personality to lead. One of the best ways to nurture athletic talent is to encourage leadership in your children. If your toddler tends to lead the pack during playschool, and if he likes to make decisions for the group because he has that much confidence in himself, you might be looking at a future team captain. While not all athletes need to be the leader of the pack, being able to decide quickly, strategically and confidently is a very obvious sign of potential sportsmanship.
6. Discipline
Being an athlete is not just an occupation but a way of life. With that said, if you wish to assess whether your child will succeed in anything, look at how receptive they are to discipline. This does not mean they say yes to everything you say, but do they have enough openness to instill little disciplines you try to teach them while they are young? Do they keep their toys in boxes as part of a routine? Do they like healthy food? Of course, discipline is learned at home, but a child who has no discipline with the small things in life might not make it as a successful athlete. Athletes have regimens and strict diets to follow. If you learn about nurturing athletic talent, then the ability to be disciplined is an essential trait in any athlete.
7. Physical attributes
You also need to be very practical when raising an athlete. Look at your child’s physical attributes like height or ability to bulk up or lose weight. Certain sports, like gymnastics, could be more favorable for smaller builds. Meanwhile, basketball and volleyball would be more suitable for lankier frames. Wresting and American football would be ideal for those with broader shoulders and bulkier builds. A lot of this has to do with genetics, so it pays to be aware of what your genetic pool has to offer.
8. Problem solver
If your child learns quickly and can solve problems without crying, you might be looking at a potential athlete. You may notice these traits during their toddler ages, or it could be more apparent in their grade school days, but if a child knows how to strategize himself out of a problem, you are looking at a brainy athlete. This is also essential for the team, and many team captains are a blend of both brains and braun in the field.
What Next for Your Future Elite Athlete?
Once you recognize these key signs of athletic talent in children, you should instill an ideal lifestyle for them. A good first step would be to expose them to the sport, or let them enjoy some outdoor play, and enroll them in lessons. You also need to make sure that they are living a healthy lifestyle. While burning off calories from junk food through sports might be a dreamy deal, it’s better if your child learns to love healthy food. This way, they feed their body correctly and learn to value health above all. Finally, let your child explore and make choices on his own. One of the keys to success in sports is having enough passion for it, which is a road best chosen by the future athlete himself.