Developing Student-Athletes:
Tips for Parents
| The wrestling coach's job is to develop student-athletes and to win matches. As a parent, it is your job to monitor your son's academic progress and to encourage him to be successful in the classroom as well. Hopefully, these tips will help you do just that. |
Be interested. Make certain that your son knows that his academic progress is important to you. Attend all open houses and parent conferences. Know when each grading period ends, and see all progress reports and report cards as soon as they come out. Do not assume that someone will call you if there's a problem. If you do not see a progress report or report card, call the school and request a copy immediately.
Make sure your son's courses are appropriate for him. Help your son choose his courses carefully. If any of his courses are too difficult, too easy, or inappropriate, talk to his school counselor. If your son hopes to wrestle at a Division I or Division II college, ask his counselor or the athletic office for information on NCAA guidelines, and make sure he is taking the courses he needs to be eligible. Also, have your son schedule a study hall during wrestling season if at all possible..
Discuss classes and set goals. Sit down with your son at the beginning of each grading period and help him set realistic academic goals for that term. Setting goals gives your son something to work for, and it also makes him aware of exactly what your expectations are.
Talk to your son about time management. Playing any sport requires a substantial time commitment. Athletes therefore need to develop good time management skills in order to get everything done.
Encourage your son to use all of the time he's given in school to study or to work on homework. Help your son create a study plan and then help him identify anything that might sabotage his plan (e.g., lying down on the couch to watch TV before homework is done).
Offer to help. Offer to help with homework, but don't give more help than is wanted. Your son may not ask again. Keep in mind that it is your son's responsibility to get homework done and to prepare for tests.
Make your son accountable. It's human nature to be tempted to "slack off" when we're not held accountable. Your son needs to know that you care and that you are monitoring his academic progress. He needs to know that successes will be recognized and that poor performances will be noticed. Go over every progress report and report card with him and contact the teacher if your son has a low grade in a class.
Work with the school. Teachers, counselors, coaches, and principals are there to help your son get the best education possible. A divorce, health problem, or death in the family can affect your child's attitude and performance. If such a circumstance should arise, call the school and tell them what's going on. If you have a concern that relates to a specific class, call the teacher. For other concerns, call your son's counselor.