Tips for Supporting Your Student-Athlete
By Skylar Jewell
IJGA Director of Mental Performance / Character Mentor
Recently I attended an elite level golf tournament, riddled
with college coaches scouting potential players for their
teams, many from the Division I level. A few coaches
followed the players I was accompanying. As we crossed
paths, I decided to ask a few questions about scouting
and what they look for. I received some general answers
that you could probably predict. However, one topic
that nearly every coach mentioned was the subject of
“Parents.”
What do Parents have to do with the recruitment of an
athlete? How can a Parent help their child while they are
building their golf resume?
1. Clarify your role in your child’s development - As a
parent, inevitably you wear many hats and become
comfortable with the challenges of being in many
roles. When it comes time to turn over the reins, some
parents struggle to know how best to support their
child. At IJGA we use technology and facts to keep
parents informed of the blueprint and plan for their
child’s development. In doing this, we encourage
parents to support and provide unconditional love as
we work as a team to build the person and athlete.
2. Support Mastery of Skills - In golf, it is the score at
the end of the day that is measured. Making your high
school team, college qualifier or local amateur field
are all measured by score. Even at the professional
level where livelihood is on the line, scores are what
dictate success. What is often overlooked at the
amateur level are the skills that create the scores.
Without the motor and finely tuned engineering,
scores come inconsistently and are likely viewed
as an anomaly. Players typically then show a lack
of confidence and helplessness when forced to
adapt. Scores are a product of improving skills and
transferring them into competition. Again, outcomes
are the product. By supporting mastery of ever-
more challenging skills (such as pin proximity, Greens
In Regulation (GIR), enjoying challenge), students
learn to revert back to building the skills first which
promotes increased ownership and confidence in
learning and improving.
3. Provide Unconditional Love - As coaches, we work
hard to push athletes towards their potential, and
as a part of this they will encounter challenges. It is
through being challenged where the most fulfilling
learning thrives. Unconditional love and support
allows the child to feel supported when venturing into
unfamiliar grounds and understand that they are able
to push towards greater goals.
As we prepare and build students for college and beyond,
it is important to remember that college coaches look for
skills not just scores, support and teamwork.
If you would like to know more please reach out to IJGA
at [email protected] or the author of this article at
[email protected]
5