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Among my clients one of the recurring
discussions I have with various junior golfers
and their parents revolves around how much a
player should be practicing. Unfortunately,
this question frequently creates conflict in
many households, as parents are either
concerned that their child is not spending
enough time preparing adequately, or in fewer
instances, they are concerned that their child
is over training.
It is critical that there be consensus built
in the family around how much time will be
dedicated to golf activities on the part of the
player. If there is conflict around this,
often the player will feel guilty when not
practicing and resentful when they are
practicing. On the other hand, parents who
have committed time and money to their child’s
golf development have a right to demand a
certain level of commitment on the part of
their kid.
My recommendation in these instances is that
the family uses their professional golf coach
or coaches as the arbitrator of this question.
If there is a question regarding how much
practice, what type of practice, and for how
long, I strongly propose that this question be
left in the hands of someone who has the
ultimate knowledge base regarding these
questions. It is mind boggling to me how many
parents spend loads of money on golf lessons
and training for their kids, and yet still want
to weigh in with their opinions on how much
their child should train and what they should
be working on. My short response to this
concern is to say, “Let the coaches coach, and
let’s let the parents parent”. It is difficult
for some parents to let go of their desire to
manage their child’s development, and some feel
that they have a right to do so. I will not
argue whether or not they have a right- but I
will debate what is effective for the child and
for the family system as a whole. Putting the
burden on the instructor/coach to develop a
practice plan for the young golfer is part of
the professional’s job. If you are getting
instruction from someone who is reluctant to
provide input into the practice plan, you have
the wrong instructor
Let’s reduce the tension in the family
around the whole issue of golf practice, by
asking the golf professional to assist in
developing this. Let’s increase the enjoyment
that each kid and the entire family can have by
being clear about the path toward one’s golf
goals, and being committed to adhering to that
path. This way the parent/child relationship
can be preserved, and the most competent person
in the system- the golf professional- will
determine how much, when, and what type of
training in which to engage.
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