Is My Young Athlete Healthy?

Does your child or athlete show rapid weight loss or gain?

Does your child or athlete show changes in eating habits?

Does your child or athlete irritability and moodiness?

Is your child or athlete constantly exercising/training?

Does your child or athlete isolate him/herself?

Based on your answers, your young athlete seems to be healthy. That is, of course, the outcome we all would like to see! Sports, homework, tests, extracurriculars.. It can be pretty overwhelming for young athletes to success in all of these things at the same time. They may feel like there is no end to their responsibilities. Young athletes face pressures not only from school, their sports, coaches and parents, but also from society. It can be exhausting for kids to have the feeling they need to ‘fit in’. As a parent, coach, and teacher, it’s your responsibility to look after the wellbeing of kids and recognize the signs of physical and emotional distress.

Based on your answers, your young athlete is displaying just one or two signs of being healthy. It is very important as a parent, teacher, or coach to be aware of the signs of physical or emotional distress. Understanding these signs can help a young athlete maintain a positive physical and mental state not only throughout their childhood, but also into their adult life. Young athletes face pressures from not only school, sports, coaches and parents, but also from society. It can be very exhausting for your child. If you are not sure about your child’s symptoms, you should take him or her to your doctor.

Unfortunately, based on your answers, it seems like your young athlete is not very healthy. This is concerning. It’s very important as a parent, teacher, and coach to be aware of any signs of physical or emotional distress. Understanding these signs can help a young athlete maintain a positive physical and mental state not only throughout their childhood, but also into their adult life. Make sure to encourage a positive body image and tell your child that you are his or her number one fan, on the field but also off the field! If you are not sure how to deal with your child’s symptoms, it may be important to ask your doctor for advises.