Coaches Challenge -" An Introvert Child "

Coaches involved in development programs are bound to meet children who are introvert.

The term "introvert" was introduced by the eminent psychologist "Carl Jung" who described that introverts tend to be preoccupied with their thoughts and feelings and minimize their contact with other people.

The etymology meaning of "introvert" is simple and clear: "the tendency to withdraw from the world".

When a coach encounters with such children in their development programs, please don't try to convince nor compel them. Learn how to become an introvert's friend.

For a coach, this is a challenge as introverts don't make friends easily.

You will be surprised, when an introvert considers the coach as a friend, the learning process has started between the coach and the child.

Most introverts are shaped by the environments they grew up in i.e Parents, peers, coaches or living in hostile surroundings.

In most cases, it is caused by the parents putting pressure, compel and fear on the child to fulfill their ambition.

Coaches need to enlighten the parents that their actions are pushing the child to become an introvert.

During training and competitions, the parents will be shouting instructions from the grandstand, thinking they are guiding their child but in reality, they are making the child confused and stressed out.

Parents will be also pushing the idea that their child needs to participate in higher-level competitions to improve faster.

Guide the parents that they are psychologically damaging the child by their actions in pushing him early to participate at a higher level.

Initially, an introvert child will avoid participating in training drills and matches.

Be patient, praise the child when a skill is performed well and guide the child when he is not proficient in his skills.

When an introvert does a mistake, he tends to look at the coach with fear in his eyes, thinking the coach will yell at him. This could be due to a lack of confidence and low self-esteem.

The coach needs to be calm and composed, just smile and guide.

You can see in time an introvert will get more involved in the game. (never apply pressure on the child)

Create time and events for the team to socialize i.e dinner, movie, out of state competition, etc. Such events will allow an introvert to understand his teammates and will soon start to interact with them.

A good relationship between the introvert child and the rest of the children will be reflected in the field with an introvert enjoying every moment learning the game with his teammates.

This precious journey in understanding an introvert would give the coach the insight to use his thoughts and feelings in developing children into future stars.


Thank You.