Being balanced

What it is?

finding a state of equilibrium between two or more states of being.

Young athletes should be encouraged to find an equal balance between sports, school, family and friends. Get a good night’s rest and eat a balanced diet. If you notice that  someone’s performance is slipping, talk to them and their parents: are they getting enough rest? Are they eating properly? Are they over stress from school work? Help to identify the problem and ensure that just the right amount of time is being spent on the basketball court. Encourage parents to come out and watch practices and games – make youth sports a family affair!

When the optimum balance is reached, you will see results on the court. Talk to the parents and let them know how much they’re helping their child by making sure that they are maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Show interest in the athlete’s life outside of basketball: ask about their academics and other extracurricular. Recreational sports should be a privilege; if they’re doing well in school, they’re going to do well on the court!

Coach

Have your athletes keep a weekly log of what they eat, how long they sleep, how much time is spent on their studies, and how much time is devoted to basketball and other sports. At the end of the week, have them analyze the results. Are there areas that needs more attention and devote more time to? How can improvements be made to help them achieve a more balanced lifestyle?

Player

Player’s Activity: Keep a weekly log of how you’re spending your time, including homework, sports, reading and time spent watching television. At week’s end, tally up the amount of time you spent doing each of the above activities. What do you spend the most time on? Talk about this with your parents. Is there something that you want to make time for? Have your parents help you out with this.