Andrej Miklavc

The Sportskid Whisperer

 

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Sport has never stopped fascinating me – not just from a competitive point of view but also in a much broader sense. Sports and the athletes that take part in them represent a phenomenon that is followed by nearly 74% of the world’s population. That means, as a fact, sport is the most recognized and adored activity in the entire world. And that leads us to the question:  why do people follow sport in such a wide and all-pervasive manner?

 

The answer lies in a simple fact: the nature of a human.

 

People tend to believe, trust and follow those who show that they believe in the choice of their trodden path and in their ability to excel on that path. These admired individuals are those that strive endlessly and tirelessly, to achieve the lofty goals they have set for themselves.

 

These factors are connected in an incredibly close way, and are present in every sport and the sportsman that practices it. I’m sure that you know someone in your circle of friends and acquaintances, who is engaged in serious sport. And that you may have noticed that they do not find it necessary to speak about or communicate aloud, these underlying principles that define their involvement with sport.

 

This self-belief and drive for perfection is something that we all perceive and strive for ourselves, throughout our lives; in every sphere of our existence. This is the way we look to build our relationships. This is what we aim for in our careers and in our business associations. This forms the basis of our long-term development. And above all, this forms the basis of every family and is the very essence that we would like to pass on to our children.

 

Is it not true that children are our greatest treasure? The greatest gift given to us in our lives? But at the same time, they also represent our greatest challenge! Teaching our children how to navigate through life and communicating to them what we know and the way we think is no easy task. It falls to us to teach them how to take on life’s many challenges and how to mature and develop at the same time. And ultimately, all we can hope is that they are able to discover their own true potential, along with a sense of value, individuality, achievement and above all, love.

 

All of this is so easy to find right there in sport. And this is what provides another logical answer to why sport remains such an enduring and popular choice. Sports is something that we can/do engage in ourselves. It is something that we enjoy and at the same time, something that we can transmit to and share with our children, especially the lessons and benefits that sports so generously offers us.

 

The Sportskid Whisperer is a book dedicated to you - to children, to the parents and to everyone who is active in sport, one way or another.

 

Today we live in times that have never before been so unpredictable. We are confronted with a time of constant change, and a time in which knowledge and awareness of the strategies required for getting ahead has become almost a necessity. As parents, we have to believe that a child’s participation in sport is by far, the best and safest way that they can spend their leisure time. It may even be the best compensation for our inability (on account of our busy modern lifestyles) to spend enough quality time with them.

 

This is also the reason the number of sports activities available to children from the fifth year of age onwards, has increased by a factor of four in the last fifteen years. That is why parents enrol more and more children in various kinds of sport activities. But, we too often forget about our children's expectations and the needs that arise from this. The importance does not lie so much in their need for material things or their expectations, but in understanding and supporting the level of their engagement and development. It is much easier, quicker and clearer to trace and monitor this development in sports than in other areas such as school, family, and social environment.

 

I have been fortunate to have spent 27 fantastic years in the pursuit of my sport. On the way, I have taken many steps that were invisible yet uncertain. I have travelled the world and spent countless days exposed to the sun, cold, and snow. I have experienced a sense of failure, a sense of triumph and everything in between.

 

Today, when I look into the eyes of a child who playfully and with great curiosity gazes out at  the world before him, I cannot ignore the fact that sport has given me so much of what is required for a human being to learn, experience and overcome in a lifetime. And if there exists a way for me to support you in your quest, dear children, parents, teachers, trainers... I am going to find it. I am going to share my experiences, my struggles and my triumphs with you, so that you will be able to better recognise the benefits that sports offers to all of us and I fondly hope that it becomes easier for you to enjoy your child's development in sport.

 

Contents

 

• Sport is the World – the World is Sport

• Co-create The Maximum With Your Child

• Why Do Children Take Up Sport and What Do They Want From It?

• Why Do Children Quit Sport?

• What Do Children Expect From Their Parents?

• Rule #1 – Unconditional Love

• Perception Of Skills

• Role Of Praise

• Triangle Of Communication: Parent – Coach – Child

• Tips On How To Support Your Child

• Performance Versus Results

• Did I win or Did I lose?

• Competition Day

• Help Your Child To Deal With The “Pressure”

• How Can Parents Effectively Support Children In Sport?

• Enjoy Yourself In Sport, You Have Earned It!

 

The Sportskid Whisperer - Why children love sport and how parents can positively encourage them?

 

Book price 24,99€