The choice to become an athlete in the eyes of young Indonesian athletes

In certain sports, being an athlete must start from childhood, from toddlers to elementary school age. At that age, children are in their golden age to practice and develop their physical abilities.

But starting to be an athlete from a young age does not mean that the choice of sports must be based on the wishes of the parents alone without considering the wishes of the child. Becoming an athlete in a certain sport may be a child's choice from a very young age.

How is the choice to become an athlete in the eyes of young athletes?

1. Rachel and badminton

Rachel Allessya Rose is a young badminton athlete who is currently 15 years old. Rachel was first introduced to badminton by her father. From the age of a toddler, Rachel's father often took her to the badminton court.

While in the second grade of elementary school, Rachel tried to play badminton in an official match for the first time. In the badminton tournament at the DKI Jakarta provincial level, he managed to get first place.

His father also asked, “Why not just take it (being a badminton athlete). Rachel finally chose to continue to pursue badminton more seriously.

He's got more and more regular exercise schedules than ever before. Finally, at the age of 9, her father enrolled Rachel in the Exist Jakarta club.

Since taking badminton seriously, other activities have become number two. Rachel practiced every day, morning and evening, feeling tired and aches had become her daily diet. He realized that being an athlete had to go beyond one's limits.

It's not uncommon for her parents to ask Rachel to keep practicing, to get better, and to win in matches. But he never felt that his parents' words were a burden and pressure.

"Once people know they loudly say, 'Come on, you have to win'. But I know it's just a push. I don't think of it as pressure, but it's rich in challenges. Because I like something that is challenging and it's fun to do it, ”said Rachel to Hello Sehat at Pelatnas Cipayung.

At this stage little Rachel has the same ambitions as Rachel's parents. Both are balanced and have a good impact on children in becoming athletes and undergoing sports as their choice.

Now Rachel is included in the training for Indonesian badminton national athletes at the Cipayung National Team.

"Hopefully we can continue to level up and in the near future we are targeting to participate in the junior badminton world championship which will be held next year," said Rachel.

2. Great sport and wrestling

Little Agung never watches a wrestling match, be it live or on television. Until the age of 9 years, his older cousin who is also a wrestling trainer took him to the training arena.

At the training arena, Agung was introduced to what wrestling was. With the blessing of Agung's parents, his cousin who is the trainer teaches Agung the techniques of grappling.

“But I didn't get first place, my parents seemed annoyed. But I don't know that losing a match is sad, but at that time I was happy because I won second place, ”said Agung with laughter as he told Hello Sehat via Zoom's call.

After winning the championship, Agung felt bored and tired of training. He secretly skipped training without his parents noticing. But eventually he was persuaded to return to training, people closest to him and the coach said Agung had a talent for wrestling.

"He said I had a talent for wrestling and if I won the tournament I could go to an athlete dormitory in Jakarta," said Agung.

He was also tempted to return to training as a wrestler. Moreover, he remembered that by becoming a great athlete he could travel by plane. Because, a great athlete will have many matches outside the city and abroad. His desire to be able to board the plane arose because his house was not far from the airport.

"Actually, if I was introduced to badminton and wrestling as a child, I would prefer badminton," said Agung with a smile. Even so, he has confirmed that he will become a professional wrestling athlete and can compete until he enters the Olympics.

Agung Hartawan is currently 15 years old, he goes to school for athletes in Ragunan, Jakarta as a promising junior wrestling athlete.

3. Faiz Ihsanul Kamil and soccer

Faiz doesn't remember the first time he got to know football. He has liked soccer since he was able to play outside the house with friends. Entering kindergarten, Faiz started participating in futsal competitions with friends aged 2-3 years and over.

In the third grade of elementary school, Faiz began to enter a soccer school in his area through the selection route in one of the inter-school soccer tournaments.

At the age of 10, Faiz became one of the players selected to enter the soccer school under the guidance of Real Madrid in Indonesia, which is financed by the Real Madrid Foundation (RMF).

Faiz's parents never intervened in their child's choice of sports. Faiz really wanted to be a soccer athlete from a young age.

"Playing soccer is just fun, all other thoughts that make you unhappy are gone," said Faiz.

"Yes, physical exercise is very tiring. But if you think, "Ah, you don't want to play soccer because you're tired," never crossed your mind at all, "he said. Even during this pandemic, Faiz continued to exercise and train himself to maintain his fitness as an athlete during the pandemic.

Now Faiz is on the team elite pro club PSS Sleman Yogyakarta and play as goalkeeper.

"Asking parents' permission to become serious athletes, parents are very supportive, buy soccer shoes, other soccer needs that are not provided by the school. Nutrition is also paid attention to according to the direction of the coach, "said Faiz.

When asked why he wanted to choose the position of goalkeeper since he was a child, Faiz replied, "When he was a kid, the goalkeeper looked good, he kept falling."

The target in the near future is to be selected for the U-16 national team next year.

The difference in the portion of sports training for hobbies and for being an athlete

Each child's exercise pattern is not the same. The portion of training, especially physical exercise, must be personal and in accordance with the ability level. Sports specialist Michael Triangto said, there are differences in the perspective of the portion of children's training in exercising for health and to become young athletes or for achievement.

"If we overdo it we will overwork these tiny muscles which might trigger an injury and it is possible that the injury will not heal forever," he explained.

Whether it's at the professional level or for hobbies, the consideration of choosing sports for children should be the desire of the child, not the desire of the parents. Injuries are more avoidable if the child enjoys the sport because he knows how valuable physical work is.

Doctor Michael advised parents to be more honest with themselves and in seeing their children's sports abilities. If the child is not capable of being an athlete, then that's it. Give the child suggestions to carry out further plans according to his ability.

The more parents force their child to like one type of sport, the more it will erode their desire to become an athlete.