How Subtle Parental Actions Impact a Young Rider’s Confidence!
“It’s not that parents don’t believe in their kids—it’s that they don’t know the path.” The way you talk about your child’s motocross dream can make all the difference. Here’s how subtle actions and words might be affecting your young rider more than you realise.
Parents, especially dads, are often their child’s biggest hero. They are the ones young athletes look up to—the role models they want to impress. But here’s something many parents don’t realise: the way you talk about your child’s dream of making a career in motocross, even when you’re trying to be practical or cautious, can have a huge impact on their confidence.
Subtle Messages Can Hurt More Than You Think
When parents express doubt about motocross as a real career path, it’s often because they lack knowledge of the sport and the pathway to success. You’re not doubting your child’s abilities—you’re simply unsure of how the sport works in the long term. But here’s what you may not realise: from your child’s perspective, it can feel like you don’t believe in them.
Here’s How It Looks to Your Rider:
• Doubt from You = Doubt in Themselves: When your rider hears you question whether motocross can lead to a successful career, they start to doubt their own potential.
• Unintentional Comparisons: Even subtle comments like “Only a few make it” or “What’s your backup plan?” can make them feel like you’re waiting for them to fail.
• The Hero Effect: You are their role model. They want your approval, and when they sense your uncertainty, it shakes their confidence more than you might realise.
A Common Scenario
Take James for example, a 14-year-old rider with dreams of racing professionally in the USA. His family loves him and wants the best for him, but his dad often talks about motocross as a “hobby,” not a real career. Even though his dad is trying to protect him from disappointment, James hears it as a lack of belief in his potential, and it’s causing him to doubt himself on race day.
This isn’t about ill intentions—James’ dad simply doesn’t know the pathway to success in motocross. But to James, those words feel like a sign that his biggest hero isn’t sure he’ll make it. And for a young rider, that doubt is enough to trigger anxiety, lower confidence, and affect performance.
The Solution: Aligning Your Support with Their Dream
Parents, you don’t have to understand every detail of the motocross world to show your support. The key is shifting your language and approach to better align with your child’s dream, even as you learn more about the sport. Here’s how you can help:
• Believe in Their Dream: Let your child know that you believe in their ability to pursue motocross as a career. You don’t have to have all the answers—just show them that you’re behind them 100%.
• Get Informed: If you’re unsure how motocross works as a career, seek out information. Learning more about the sport’s pathway to success can give you the confidence to support them fully. Get the young aspiring rider to research all he can about the sport, how much it costs, how to gain sponsors, how to leverage social media for funding.
• Encourage Growth, Not Perfection: Instead of focusing on results, encourage their growth. Celebrate progress, effort, and perseverance. This will build their confidence and keep them motivated to keep improving.
Remember: You Are Their Role Model
As a parent, your words carry more weight than you think. If you don’t believe in their dream, they might stop believing in themselves. But if you show them that you’re all in—no matter how hard the journey might seem—they’ll be more likely to overcome the obstacles.
Do you have a young rider who dreams of making motocross a career?
If you’re unsure how to support them, let’s talk.
We can help guide you through the sport’s professional pathway so you can support your child with confidence.
Reach out today to learn how you can align your support with your child’s dream and become their biggest advocate on their journey to success.
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