Developing Your Son or Daughter into an Athletic Superstar

Congratulations, mom and dad, you have yourselves a budding superstar. But, before signing up your precocious toddler for private soccer or basketball training, stop and consider the most important elements of athletic (and life) success.

Pro athletes have an uncommon combination of genes, skills and work ethic. The difference between a multi-millionaire professional athlete and a just-missed could, shoulda, woulda is razor thin, and oftentimes the only difference is the right situation or opportunity at the right time. Look at Boris Diaw or Darko Milicic, first round draft picks about to be labeled major busts in one situation, now ready to sign nine million dollar a year (or more) contracts as integral parts of play-off (likely) teams.

The genes are already taken care of; let's assume you, as the parents, held up your part of the bargain. What can you do to nurture little Johnny into the next Derek Jeter/Landon Donovan/Tom Brady/Chris Paul or Mia Hamm/Diana Tarausi/Lyndsay Davenport?

Most assume the best recipe for success is to get a jump on the competition. I have heard from parents with children as young as six asking for personal basketball training. However, I am not in favor of children ths young even playing organized sports, and I am not alone. "Experts like Rae Pica, a movement education consultant and author of Your Active Child, echoes numerous child-development experts in her argument that kids under 11 or 12 years old shouldn't even be in organized, competitive team sports because their bodies aren't developed enough to safely accomplish certain athletic tasks."

According to Brian Grasso, founder of the International Youth Conditioning Association, young children should participate in four sports activities: