Coaches I’m looking for advice, similar experiences and how you dealt with and addressed athletes dealing with Stress of racing, high expectations/pressure on self, as well as other activities like school (APs and SATs), and other things like clubs and sports.
The she’s a high school JR with 2 years of winter and spring track, mostly runs the 400/600/800. She started to hit stride her 2nd year, seeming to get the feel for racing and training as a SO. A runner starting to figure out racing and is willing to take a chance, attack and push through the ‘tough painful’ parts of races. We’re a small school some young athletes 7th grade - 12th grade, and we try to take it slow and gradually increase load and intensity athletes get older and more experienced. This athlete plays tennis in the fall and at the end of the spring season set new open PRs of 62.80 and 2:27.90. obviously there's potential with these times as a SO and could be running at some level in college right now. Tennis wise, she plans to take lessons this winter and from what we gathered from the parents and coaches it's unlikely they’d be likely to play in college.
We’ve talked with the athlete and parents a bit to see what's going on and if everything thing is okay in and outside of school concerning grades, friends, relationships, and all. Some the reasons are long meets indoors, school work - APs and SATs, tennis lessons. This is a very good student academically, APs and has been on the principal's list. The athlete said a lot is to do with not liking the stress of competing, long meets indoors, and putting too much pressure on herself to compete and measuring oneself to other teammates. She has high expectations of in the classroom and on the track. There was one incident last spring where she stressed herself out and couldn't race an event because she felt sick to her stomach. However, talking it out afterwards she seemed fine and came back setting her PRs the last set of race. She's told us she enjoys running but hates racing because of the stress. And last season there was a love hate of it some days really looking to running, others dreading it.
Fellow coaches or runners have you had similar cases with girls racing? Putting to much stress and pressure on themselves? Having trouble managing other things also.
The girl didn't tell us but from have conversations with a couple teammates and the parents she's considering coming back out for spring.
Some time before the spring I plan meet with the athlete again. Please feel free to share experiences and thoughts on how to approach or handle the situation or similar situations going forward.
MUCH APPRECIATED!