Raising well rounded athletes

GRAND RAPIDS, MIch. (WOTV) - There are so many benefits to having a child involved in sports. Maranda sat down with former athletic director, Jan Gillette, to talk about raising well rounded athletes.

Why are sports so good for kids?

-Physical activity
-Pushing your body to be the best it can be
-Team work
-Commitment and dedication
-Courage
-Winning and loosing
-Perseverance

What are the best ways parents can encourage their kids in sports?

-Believe in them
-Never make your child feel unworthy because of what happened in a game
-Take time out of your busy schedule and be there to watch your son or daughter  
-Keep it fun
-Encourage their kids to try as many sports as you can

Any advice for kids and parents regarding sportsmanship?    

-Keep all cheering positive
-Leave your opponents out of it
-Respect should be shown to all players, coaches and officials
-Represent yourself with class

How can we prevent kids from burning out?

-Be aware of the amount of time that sports are taking up and make sure your child has scheduled down time.
-As our kids grow, their interest might change,so listen to your kids.
-Make sure that you kids self worth does not depend upon their athletic ability.
-It's okay to just be a team mate and experience the privilege to be a part of a team.