How to Mold the Young Athletes with Alaska

Created in 1891, Basketball is one of the world’s most popular and widely viewed sports. Though unofficial, it is considered as the national sport here in our country. Who cannot be aware of this sport when even kids know about it and play it? When a boy is born, the ball is usually his first toy. A lot of kids play and start picking up the famous sport at a younger age.

This year, Alaska has again launched the Jr. NBA Philippines 2017, to help nourish these young athletes’ love and skill for the game.

Alaska Milk and NBA Philippines has partnered for the Jr. NBA; a program that aims to cultivate young athletes’ potential through a series of school and open basketball clinics, Regional Selection Camps, a National Training Program and the NBA experience trip. It also seeks to help these young talents form the habit of getting the right nourishment by drinking milk and through leading a healthy and active lifestyle.

The Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) said that obesity has become one of the most pressing nutritional issues of Filipino children today, with about five in 100 Filipino kids who are overweight.

Alaska Milk emphasizes the need for children to start leading healthier, energetic and nutritionally-balanced lifestyles through programs like the Jr. NBA Philippines to entice kids to put down their gadgets and pick up a sport instead.

As moms, we can help our budding basketball player reach his or her star athlete potential. Here’s how to support young champs from the sidelines:

1. Demonstrate SPORTSMANSHIP. Start within yourself to influence your child. Not every game your champ will be in will be as clean as a whistle. Kids will be kids. So, don’t be surprised if they play rough sometimes. Teach your son or daughter to be the “bigger” athlete by taking the high road. If for instance, your kid’s team loses a game or an important point, teach him to refocus instead of losing steam. Train him to reassess what he could have done better and how he can apply it next time.

2. Learn the game further with your kid. You can’t just preach about something without a single knowledge about it, right? Brush up on some Basketball 101 by going online, watching games or just asking other basketball fans. Before you know it, you both can comment on the directions of the point guard, critique the flow of the movement in the paint, and observe how the team executes zone defense and triangle offense like the best of them.

3. Emphasize the value of TEAMWORK. Basketball obviously involves more than one player. Do you remember when you were a kid and you didn’t want to follow rules or just wanted to be let alone? Well chances are, your child will also have a spell and will refuse to go to practice. Be understanding, yet firm. Tell him that he is a crucial part of the team and that he should feel privileged to be part of it. Help him realize the importance of commitment and teamwork.

4. Cultivate a positive ATTITUDE. Chillax, basketball is a game meant to entertain, not to stress someone out. One of the mistakes most parents commit is that they pressure their child to perform well and win the game. Don’t overburden your child by focusing on the outcome of their game. Emphasize to them that what is most important is that they are enjoying every minute of what they are doing. Allow them to discover the highlight of the sport and to fall in love with every aspect of the game because once they’re hooked, their dedication, passion, and performance will follow.

5. Give time and space. Don’t expect a superstar overnight. Big name athletes didn’t excel in their sport overnight. They practiced, practiced and practiced. If you want your child to reach his potential, don’t be afraid to give him the time and space to practice. Let him dribble away during his spare time, watch and rewind recorded NBA games, or even bring his basketball with him wherever he goes. Highlight the importance of RESPECT. In professional sports, athletes are often pitted against each other. While your budding star athlete is still young, make him realize that his only real competition himself. Show him to benchmark against his own personal bests and not see or tag other athletes as “the enemy.”

6. You also need to become a good example. Leave the coaching to the coaches. Let’s face it, it’s hard to shake off the game even when you get home. Stop yourself from over analyzing each move point by point or from criticizing your kid’s play. Your job as a parent is to be their quiet strength and their pillar of support – even when they lost the deciding point. Be an encourager and not their worst critic.

Above all these, the most simple yet powerful thing a mom can do for a young athlete is to provide unconditional love and support. Whether your child is in or out of the court, he should be nourished. Feed him with proper food and nutrition while undergoing training. This helps them perform better by powering up their bodies to function at its optimum and has the “fuel” needed to recover after training day.

Drink Alaska Chocolate Powdered Milk Drink. It has energizing nutrients namely, magnesium, calcium, and potassium that keep young athletes’ bodies in winning form.

And as always, be their number one fan by telling your kid you love them before or after every game, whether they win or lose.

With love, support, and the proper training and nourishment, every kid has the potential to make it to the big leagues. Let us help them reach their dreams.