1. Developing Your Olympian: A Parent’s ROLE
Nori Sie Pennisi
Mental Training Consultant
MSU - Institute for the Study of Youth Sports

2. Purposes Role of parents
Understanding of the stages of talent development
Best parent practices
Psychological characteristics of an Olympian
Development of psychological skills

3. Why do you want your child to swim?

4. Why does your child swim?

5. Understanding the Roles of Parents in Athlete Talent Development
Providers
Opportunities
Support
Interpreters
Success/Failure
Sport goals
Role Models
Behavior
Emotional reactions
Physical Activity

6. Progressive Phases of Talent Development
Phase 1: Introduction/Foundation Age of Athlete:
Years in Phase: 5.1
Phase 2:
Refinement/Transitional Age of Athlete:
Years in Phase: 4.0
Phase 3:
World Class/Elite Performance
Age of Athlete: 15.4+
Years in Phase: NA
Adapted from Bloom (1985)

7. Athletes Move Through Phases of Talent Development (Adapted from Bloom, 1985)
Phase 1: Introduction/Foundation
(The Early Years)
fun and participation focus
Phase 2: Refinement/Transitional
(The Middle Years)
showed talent, became more committed and involved, and received more specialized coaching
Phase 3: World Class/Elite Performance
(The Late/Elite Years)
worked many hours striving for excellence/perfecting skills

8. Parenting Themes Across Phases of Talent Development
Phase 1: The Early Years
Phase 2: The Middle Years
Phase 3: The Late Years
Fun and fundamentals
Be involved and teach values through swimming
Be less involved yet still supportive

9. Best Parent Practices
Focus on process goals (within their control) as opposed to outcome goals (not completely within their control)
Technique vs. Winning
Encourage life skills
Work hard
Do your best
Effort over outcome
Follow through on commitments
Support and encourage teammates
Keep a positive attitude

10. Best Parent Practices Let them swim for their own reasons
Reinforce being a good sport
Support coaches and their decisions
Maintain composure (before, during, and after meets)

11. Best Parent Practices
Adjust your parenting to your child’s phase of talent development (e.g., allow more independence in later phases of development)
Avoid post-meet autopsies unless initiated by child

12. Best Parent Practices Support vs. Criticize (Parent not coach)
Treat child the same regardless outcome
Keep it FUN!

13. Are Mental Skills Critical To Being A Champion?
Technical Skills
Tactics
Fitness
Mental Skills

14. Psychological Characteristics of Olympic Champions (Gould, Dieffenbach, & Moffet, 2003)
Mental toughness
Ability to focus
Ability to set and achieve goals
High motivation
Confidence
Positive or adaptive perfectionism
Coachability
High optimism

15. Parents treated the child like other siblings
Development of Psychological Talent In Olympic Champions: How Psychological Characteristics Were Developed
Families clearly supported and encouraged participation but exerted little pressure to win
Parents treated the child like other siblings

16. Parents emphasized “If going to do it, do it right” attitude
Development of Psychological Talent In Olympic Champions: How Psychological Characteristics Were Developed
Families emphasized a belief in the child’s ability to succeed or “Can Do” attitude/optimistic environment created
Parents emphasized “If going to do it, do it right” attitude

17. Development of Psychological Talent In Olympic Champions: How Psychological Characteristics Were Developed
Early exposure and contact with high-level competitors that inspired them and provided various forms of vicarious learning
Most had early success and showed signs of talent
Families are critical (transportation, support)

18. Families emphasized and modeled hard work ethic and discipline
Development of Psychological Talent In Olympic Champions: How Psychological Characteristics Were Developed
Families emphasized and modeled hard work ethic and discipline
Families did not view sport as child’s entire life. They typically kept things in perspective
Siblings often played a major role in athlete’s psychological development (model/training partner)

19. Development of Psychological Talent In Olympic Champions: Parent “Emphasize Follow-Through” Quote
If the children made a commitment, I expected them to follow-through. I would tell them you don’t have to do it. You don’t have to sign up for it. That is your choice. You are free to make a choice. Once you do make that choice, then they must commit to it. So I did expect them to follow through.

20. Development of Psychological Talent In Olympic Champions: Athlete “Perspective” Quote
I never felt like if I won a competition they were overly-excited. They were like, that was good. You know, they said that even when I didn’t perform well….I knew that they were proud of me, but I think I knew they were proud of me whether I won or lost.

21. Development of Psychological Talent In Olympic Champions: Athlete “Perspective” Quote
My mom was like, “I don’t care if you won X gold medals, you still have to do your chores and clean your room.” In a way, they all kept me humble.

22. Development of Psychological Talent In Olympic Champions: Athlete “Parent Discipline” Quote
I couldn’t swear, I couldn’t throw things at the volunteers. If I was upset and cried, that was okay, that was fine. You can cry but you can’t treat people poorly. Whether I lost my temper when I was eight years old at the finish of a race because I made a mistake, they immediately took my racing away for two weeks.

23. Development of Psychological Talent In Olympic Champions: Athlete “Parent Support” Quote
I went on to be an Olympic medalist but it was really whatever we did, you know, they were just there to support us and encourage us and but never forced us. So I guess I can’t say enough about that because so much of it came from within and still where did the within come.

24. Development of Psychological Talent In Olympic Champions: Conclusions
Families played a critical role in the psychological talent development of champions
Most champions and their family’s initial goals were not focused on developing athletic prowess
Focus was on fun and personal development
Participated in multiple sports and pursued an active lifestyle

25. Development of Psychological Talent In Olympic Champions: Conclusions
Primary focus of parents and coaches:
Long-term development emphasizing core values and disciplined involvement
Not on winning and short-term success
Early sport experience of champions:
Similar to what experts propose for all children—fun, fundamentals (physical and psychological), quality coaching

26. Questions 26

27. Thank You