“Behind every successful athlete is a team of supporters who believe in their dreams as much as they do.”
The sports industry is highly competitive, and it takes a lot of hard work and determination to succeed there. Whether someone is an athlete, coach, manager, or even a doctor/scientist, there’s often stiff competition due to the popularity and prestige associated with working in the industry.
Anyone who has a sportsperson in their life already knows the importance of supporting and encouraging them. The road to success in any sporting endeavor isn’t without challenges; your support can profoundly impact their confidence, resilience, and overall enjoyment of the sport.
Supporting an athlete goes beyond just attending their games, although that is very important and a good place to start. In the following sections, you’ll find practical tips to help you become the ultimate supporter for your athlete family member, or friend. Here they are:
Understand Their Goals and Needs
The first step to effectively supporting a sportsperson is to show genuine interest in their athletic pursuits. Have open and honest conversations about their aspirations and actively listen to their concerns.
When you understand their goals, you’ll be better positioned to encourage and motivate them. There are several aspects where an athlete may need support or assurance, such as training, recovery, nutrition, etc. Even if you can’t offer direct help, you can at least be empathetic. Offer emotional support to help them stay resilient and mentally strong.
Another benefit of being aware of their goals and challenges is that it helps you avoid putting undue pressure on them. It’s okay to expect great things from them, but be mindful of the expectations you place on them. Your expectations of them should be encouraging and empowering and not demanding, as unnecessary high expectations lead to feelings of anxiety, stress, self-doubt, and even burnout.
Celebrate Their Achievements
Athletes can easily go from hero to zero and vice versa in sports. Fans may adore an athlete today and turn on them the next day. However, your support shouldn’t be as fickle, and your athlete friend or family member should be able to count on your support on the brightest and darkest days.
Make it a habit to celebrate their victories, big or small. Whether they just secured a team win, learned a new skill, or achieved a personal milestone, reinforce their sense of accomplishment by celebrating them.
There are several ways to celebrate the accomplishments of a sportsperson. You can create personalized plaques, trophies, or certificates commemorating their achievement. To make things more special, tailor the gift to their specific sports; you can give football trophies to a football player and basketball-inspired trophies to a basketball player.
Other ways to celebrate include organizing parties or gatherings with close friends and family members or offering encouragement and admiration in person or through a letter or card. Regardless of how you celebrate them, the most important thing is honoring their achievements and genuinely expressing your pride and support.
Be Present, On and Off the Field
It’s textbook that attending games is a good way to support an athlete. Being present in the stand means you value and support them. After all, you are making time to attend their games.
Your presence in the crowd can boost their confidence and motivate them to perform at their best. They know you are around to watch and want to put on a good show for you.
Offer support beyond the field. For example, you can help with transportation to and from training sessions or competitions. You can also run errands for them, especially when extremely busy. Doing all these shows a genuine interest in their careers.
Respect Their Boundaries
It’s common courtesy to respect the boundaries of others, and you should extend this to an athlete friend, or family member. They may be your friends or family, but they have privacy and personal space. There will be things they feel discussing with you and things they do not. Respect that.
While you may mean well and want to help, there are times when you should avoid prying into their matters. This could be about sports-related issues such as injuries or performance struggles. The best action in those situations will be to let them know you are there for them and that they’ll always have a safe space with you.
Ultimately, respecting boundaries fosters trust, communication, and a healthy relationship dynamic between you and your athlete friend, or family member. Knowing that you respect their autonomy and personal space allows them to feel safe and supported.
