REFLECT ON THE STUDENTS
ENJOYMENT AND FUN IN GOLF
Help define why sports are enjoyable to them.
Students often get caught up in all of the other
things going on in their lives and can lose sight of
why they started in the first place.
HELP FOSTER STUDENT
OWNERSHIP OF THEIR
DEVELOPMENT
The coaching staff will provide technical
development, strength and conditioning, mental
performance and course management coaching.
It is up to the student to use and apply the
tools and developmental opportunities that are
presented to them.
It is important to establish an enjoyment of
learning early in development as this trait will
not only carry into future participation at higher
levels, but also into areas outside of golf. From
this foundation it is important to foster emotional
intelligence and allow for self-discovery and
autonomy. At IJGA, we take measures to both
foster a healthy environment for the enjoyment of
learning balanced with the challenges necessary
for growth. As this relates to one’s parenting, the
following steps are recommended for the long
term emotional and cognitive development of the
athlete.
LET THEM BE DISAPPOINTED
Disappointment and difficulty can be great
teachers. Allowing students to fully experience,
and then work through disappointing scores,
shots, grades, etc., prepares them to be more
resilient on and off the golf course.
ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILD TO
MAKE FRIENDS WITH PEOPLE
WHO WANT THE BEST FOR
THEM
Peers are an extremely important factor in youth
development. Encourage children to evaluate the
values that are important to them and to make
friends with people who have the same values.
ENCOURAGE BOLD EFFORTS
TO TRY DIFFERENT THINGS
AND EXPERIENCE NEW
CHALLENGES
Greatness has never come from comfort. Being
uncomfortable means that you are experiencing
new things and developing skills. Try new things …
the worst that can happen is that you learn from
the situation!
The support team for any one child is critical.
In a modern environment, making sure all
members of that team (including all coaches,
parents, teachers, etc.) working from the same
fundamentals allows for the best opportunities
for both the short and long-term. While the “best”
parenting styles are destined to be debated
to eternity, consider these steps a roadmap to
navigating how to provide the best opportunities
for the future.
If you would like to know more please reach out
to IJGA at [email protected] or the author of this
article at [email protected]
TEXTING COULD DAMAGE YOUR SPINE
Chiropractors call it “text neck” and it’s becoming an epidemic
in teenagers and young adults. What do you think the long-
term consequences are of having your neck in this position
for hours every single day? It could be the difference between
having a healthy spine or years seeing a chiropractor for pain
management. Continue with this habit and over time you may
lose the natural curvature of your cervical spine resulting in limited cervical rotation and potentially
pain. Mitigate these effects by sitting tall and holding your phone in a higher position with your chin
slightly tucked in.
Director of Strength & Conditioning, Sebastian Brown
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