Over the years, I have counseled and coached a number of elite and world
class athletes. These people have competed in some very demanding sports like
ice skating, swimming, diving, weight lifting, wrestling, fencing, the martial arts,
professional football, boxing, professional baseball and professional golf. Some of
these clients have been adults and others have been adolescents.
Typically, these kinds of athletes have very rigorous training schedules and
they usually have personal coaches to help them reach their fullest potential.
Where young athletes are involved in highly competitive sports, their relationship with
their coaches can be quite complicated.
In many instances, the coach becomes an additional family member. And
sometimes, the relationship between the coach, the athlete and the parents of the
athlete can become quite strained. It is not uncommon for parents, athletes and
coaches to have different thoughts, ideas, goals and plans as to what is best for the
young person.
Frequently, athletes who come to my office for therapy are embroiled in a conflict
involving their coach and their family members. Sometimes, these top athletes have
several coaches. For example, I am working with a golfer who has a strength coach,
a conditioning coach and a swing coach. It is not always easy to get all of these people
to act like a finely tuned machine. Egos get involved and turf wars around the athlete can
ensue.
Not long ago, a tennis player who I coached gave up the sport because his parents
had gotten into severe and unpleasant conflicts with each and everyone of his tennis
teachers. The athlete could not stand the bickering any longer. Quitting was unfortunate
in this case, since the athlete was a talented and highly ranked junior player.
Sometimes, the coach and the parents have different ideas as to the amount of
time and energy that the teenager should be investing in their sport. A mother of
an ice skater who I coached wanted her daughter to spend more time on school work
and on her social life. The coach wanted the youngster to be totally focused on her
skating.
In other instances, they have different opinions on the level of talent that
the youngster may possess. The parents of a baseball pitcher I worked with thought that
their sixteen year old had major league potential. When his pitching coach said that the
youngster could pitch for a Division I or Division II college, the parents got angry with
the coach and fired him on the spot.
Now, it is not unusual for there to be some differences among an athlete, his
or her coach and their parents. However, when the conflict is ongoing and the athlete
is not benefiting or enjoying the experience, it may be time to consult a therapist or
counselor to see if all the participants involved can function as a team.
If the conflict persists, it may simply be time to adjust the goals for the athlete and
search for another coach. A reputable coach should be willing to recommend a
colleague who can fit the athlete and the parents a bit better. I frequently refer people
to other counselors when I feel they will do better with another professional.
If you and your young athlete are in constant conflict about their sport and
their coach, it is probably wise to make some change to ameliorate the problem.
These kinds of interpersonal conflicts can be quite stressful for adults. And they
can be very confusing, and in some cases, devastating for a youngster.
If you let the conflict go on indefinitely, your child may lose interest in the activity and
fail to reach his or her fullest potential.
Jay P. Granat, Ph.D. is a Psychotherapist in River Edge, NJ. He is the founder of
