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10 Tips for Sports Parents From A National Team Athlete

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By Claire Collins

Parents are an integral part to a child’s growth, success, and enjoyment of sports. From summer swim league to the US National Rowing Team, my parents have been instrumental in helping me set and achieve my goals. They also have been critically supportive during the failures and injuries. I am most grateful for the independence they have given me in my athletics journey and the support they give to my decisions. Taking ownership for my experiences and goals has enabled me to learn many valuable lessons through sport.

I played several sports growing up including soccer, basketball, and lacrosse. I became a year round swimmer at age 10 and trained seriously through middle school (my morning practice started at 4:45 am, so big thanks to my parents for waking up early to take me to those!). In high school, I was a tri-varsity athlete all four years, playing volleyball, swimming, and rowing, and I became captain of each of those sports by senior year.

I was recruited to row at Princeton University and finished my four years there as captain, 3-time All American, 4-time Ivy-League champion and winner of the Von Keinbusch award for Princeton’s Top Senior Female Athlete.

I have competed and won medals for the US five times, three times as a Junior National Team member and twice as a U23 National Team member. I am now training with the US National Rowing Team in Princeton, NJ and competing to earn a spot on the Olympic Team for Tokyo 2021.

Below are 10 Tips I want to share with you to help you and your kids really gain the most from sports.

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  • URL: https://positivecoach.org/the-pca-blog/10-tips-for-sports-parents-from-a-national-team-athlete/
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