Stress in Junior Athletes

               I have always been taught that when you push yourself and do your best you will be able to conquer any obstacle in your way. As a child this is a very reassuring and optimistic approach to life, and it has served me well. However, growing up I never had these very high expectations and pressure of becoming a world-renowned athlete. I think this pressure can sometimes lead to increased anxiety and distress for children because they are expected to succeed in their sport and in life.

            As stated above it is very good to take advice from those who have more experience than you such as parents, coaches, or other people of importance. In athletes’ cases professional athletes are usually a go to for advice because they teach of hard work and mental toughness and training and key markers of a successful athlete (Colbert, 2012). Being an athlete comes with all different kinds of pressures from the professional level and the way down to the beginner level. With children these different stressors can have effects on their lives (Crewther 2018). A study conducted by Emilia Florina Grosu, on a group of children ages 11-15, competing for the Romanian Olympic Judo team, found that as with increased emotional distress these children can experience increase in anxiety (Grosu, 2015). So, before competitions or possibly distress from family members can lead children to become more anxious and worried about pleasing themselves and others. However, certain studies such as Blair Crewther’s, on cortisol concentration in saliva of junior athletes during a sporting competition help to display that our bodies can handle these situations (Crewther 2018). She explains that yes there is a rise in cortisol and testosterone concentration within the blood during these competitions there was no hormonal responses that were different from what her and her team were studying (Crewther 2018).

            In the end, I think it is important to remember that as we are children and we eventually grow up, that sports are just a game. As a child you are meant to enjoy the games you play so that you carry it into adulthood. A child should never be chronically stressed about their performance because in the end they should be focusing on having fun.

Colbert, S. D., Scott, J., Dale, T., & Brennan, P. A. (2012). Performing to a world class standard under pressure--can we learn lessons from the Olympians? The British Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, 50(4), 291–297. https://doi-org.dml.regis.edu/10.1016/j.bjoms.2012.04.263

Crewther, B. T., Obmiński, Z., Orysiak, J., Al, D. E. A. S., & Al-Dujaili, E. A. S. (2018). The utility of salivary testosterone and cortisol concentration measures for assessing the stress responses of junior athletes during a sporting competition. Journal of Clinical Laboratory Analysis, 32(1), 1. https://doi-org.dml.regis.edu/10.1002/jcla.22197

Grosu, E. F., Grosu, V. T., & Monea, D. (2015). Correlations between Attention, Emotional Distress and Anxiety with Regards to Athletes of 11-15 Years in Perceptual-Motor Sports. Universal Journal of Educational Research, 3(8), 508–512.