The world of an athlete, most especially a young athlete, is fraught with trials both physical and emotional. While a young athlete’s journey through field hockey will be fun and enlightening to them, it may also come with low points or feelings of hardship that will be most trying for a growing person. Luckily, being an athlete on a field hockey team means that there is a wealth of new resources and ways to deal with such hardships that a lone person does not have access to. Here are some ways that a young hockey player can cope with the inevitable physical and emotional struggles of being an athlete.
If You’re In a Youth Camp, You’re Not Alone
Field hockey youth camps help an athlete grow in many ways. Not only do you get to play a sport and develop physically, but you are introduced to fellow young athletes in the same situation. These athletes are performing the same drills, playing the same game, and going through the same growing process as you. Although being social can sometimes be difficult, these fellow athletes have the potential to be your lifelong friends.
As such, do not close yourself off when you are going through something difficult at a youth camp. If you feel that a particular bit of exercise is too difficult for you, ask a teammate who excels at the exercise for help to see if you might learn something to make it easier.
Your problem may not be physical, but emotional. Growing up is difficult, and you may be going through rough mental patches, and field hockey alone may not do enough to patch up the wound. This is when friends come in. Your parents and coaches do want what’s best for you, but the easiest confidant is no doubt a peer. If you’re struggling in any capacity with your life or sport, it’s best not to bottle it up. Find a friend you can trust to help through any issues you may unfortunately undergo.
Youth Camps Have Dedicated Support Staff and Coaches
There is one universal mistake that someone can make when it comes to problem solving, no matter the field. If you don’t know how to do something, you should not continue to blunder your way through the process hoping to get a satisfactory result. You might get a passable result after significant amounts of trial and error, but this result will never match up to one helped along by coaching from an expert or resources from those knowledgeable in the field.
The same applies to hockey, even youth camp field hockey. Some techniques are easier than others, and some drills may come more naturally to another athlete than they do to you. This can be a frustrating experience, but don’t bottle up your feelings out of pride and refrain from asking for help. Youth camps are staffed by coaches whose greatest joy is to help you grow as an athlete and a person. They’ll be able to use their knowledge and experience to help you through any problems you may be having with the sport. It can be a difficult thing to do, but swallowing your pride and asking for help will lead to better results than moving forward uninformed.
Asking for help is an important skill to develop. By doing so, you’ll master the skills needed to be a good field hockey player more quickly and proficiently. You’ll also be able to help others who are struggling with the same skills.
In the End, Don’t Forget Your Family
While youth camps may give you a supportive staff of coaches and trainers and some possible lifelong friends, never forget who most likely helped you be in the camp: your family. While it is important to make as much use of your new mentors as possible and to enjoy and help your new teammates and friends as much as possible, it is important to also remember one’s roots.
There are unfortunate times in which a youth camp participant may find themselves at odds with the camp or camp’s practices or has particular trouble with a coach or fellow athlete. In such times, athletes must never forget the support system that’s been behind them since the beginning: their family. Your family wants nothing more than for you to succeed, which is a large reason as to why you’re in a field hockey camp. Don’t be too prideful to turn to them when things seem like a bit too much for you at the moment.
Field hockey is a team sport. It’s important to rely on your team not only in the game, but outside of it. Visit our site to learn more about our camps.