Written by Kyle Thomas is the guest of the part two episode of the Culture in Sports podcast on mentorship. Champion Illinois footballer, Thomas is a great advocate for the benefits of mentorship for the young athlete, not just in sports but also for life.
He champions having the mindfulness and awareness to want to work on yourself and accept instruction and guidance. Thomas advises that the younger this happens the better. He continues to explain how his earlier emotionally charged outlook was not a healthy way to continue and that he benefitted from allowing himself to be mentored. The transference of lessons passed down through the chain creates an accumulation of knowledge and wisdom that escalates in value.
He astutely highlights that mentorship is a community affair. We need to identify specialist areas and adopt mentors in those key areas. In this way we are building a diverse set of skills from the best in each of our interests. The positive influence of experts can provide youth with the much needed skills to take ownership of their learning, develop strong core values, and strengthen interpersonal communication skills and peer relationships.
Just like in life, the sporting arena presents great highs and crushing lows, the character of the young athlete can develop the coping mechanisms needed to deal with this variance. The caring adult mentor can provide guidance and a safe space for the nurturing of valuable social, emotional, and even academic growth. Coaches have this wonderfully unique opportunity to teach goal setting and the freedom to aspire, to reach for the brass ring whilst curating resilience.