Parent Wellness: Staying Strong for Your Athlete During College Recruiting

This is a 3 part blog series about helping parent's navigate the college volleyball recruiting process alongside their athlete. If you missed the first two, check them out for tips on handling the highs and lows and supporting your athlete through it all!

I sit next to parent's sometimes that punch, hit and kick me as they watch their daughter play. I get it, recruiting can be stressful too! Remember that your own wellness as a parent can be just as important throughout this college recruiting process.

Recognize Your Own Emotions

It's perfectly normal to feel frustration, anxiety, overwhelmed, and sometimes all at once. Your emotions can impact your athlete and how they handle any given situation. Athlete's will often mimic their parents words, feelings and emotions without ever realizing it. Be honest about how you are feeling about the process. That honest with your athlete can lead to some really good conversations.

Healthy Strategies

Here are some key strategies to help you help your athlete navigate this process:

• Take breaks from recruiting - sometimes stepping away helps reset your perspective

  
  

• Connect with other parents or coaches for support and try to keep the conversation positive.

  
  

• Check your expectations. Stress often comes from unspoken or unrealistic hopes for the process.

Keep Family Communication Open

Here are some other things to think about when it comes to family communication:

• Check in regularly with your athlete - you might not get more than "I'm fine" but being available is key.

  
  

• Share feelings honestly and stay supportive about what they are doing

  
  

• Don't let recruiting dominate the conversation at the dinner table or in the car ride home. Have other things and topics ready to discuss on a regular basis

  
  

• Set a weekly recruiting talk time. Outside of that time have it NOT be a topic you discuss with your athlete or as a family; unless you're celebrating wins!

  
  

Set Realistic Expectations

Remember that everyone's journey is unique. I know, lots of people read that and will say, "Well my daughter's process is going to go like this..." and while I always hope for quick and easy, it doesn't always happen. Part of this is being flexible and going with the flow of how things pan out. There is a lot NOT in your control as a parent and athlete. Celebrate small wins a long the way. Longer processes aren't always bad. Sometimes we need to wait for the right school and the right fit.

Model Resilience and Positivity

How you handle setbacks teaches your athlete a lot. Try these simple ways to model resilience and a positive outlook:

• Stay calm when things get tough - Your reaction sets the tone for your athlete

  
  

• Talk openly about challenges - Don't be shy talking about the hard parts; remember that you and your athlete aren't alone in your feelings and emotions.

  
  

• Focus on solutions, not just problems - Encourage your athlete to focus on what they CAN control.

  
  

• Celebrate progress, even when it's small - Every step in a positive direction is one step closer to a commitment.

Final Thoughts!

Every family's journey is different, and there's no one right way to get through it. The most important thing is that you and your athlete feel supported along the way.

PRI is here to help you navigate this process together.

If you have questions, feel free to put them in the comments or reach out to us directly!

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