Why Having Fun Helps Sports Kids Perform Well
High school athlete Jacob understands why having fun is hands-down the most important thing kids can do when all seems lost. In a recent interview, he told us that when his team is down, or if he makes mistakes, his confidence starts to slip—until he reminds himself that it’s important to focus on having fun. “I forget my mistakes and tell myself that no matter what happens, we’re in this for fun and we’re just going to have fun.” Here... [Read More...]
Why Setting Goals is So Important for Sports Kids
It’s a great idea to set goals for sports kids. Goal-setting helps improve kids’ motivation and commitment, helps them stay focused on what to accomplish, helps them assess their strengths and weaknesses, and track their performance. But who should do it–the parent, the young athlete, or the coach? And what do you as a sports parent do if you want your child to set goals, but the coach doesn’t focus on this issue? These are great questions... [Read More...]
The Advantages of An Inside-Out Mindset For Young Athletes
Too often today, young athletes are motivated for the wrong reason, says Kirk Mango, a former Division I gymnast who is now a coach and sports parent. He says many athletes seek external rewards, such as trophies, admiration from coaches and parents, poularity, and scholarships. The problem with what he calls an “outside-in” mindset: The rewards are fleeting, and don’t sustain young athletes, he says. “When you value something from the inside,... [Read More...]
One Must-Have Mental Game Strategy to Help Young Athletes Excel in Competition
A sports parent tells us her son really shines on the field during practice. “He’s way beyond all the other boys in terms of technical and tactical skills during practice.” However, here’s the “But.” And it’s a big one. During a game, she says, you wouldn’t know her son excels in practice. Does this sound familiar? Do your sports kids have trouble transferring skills from practice to games? Read on to... [Read More...]
Helping Sports Kids Cope with Mistakes – Video Part 3
Frustrated parents and coaches of young athletes contact us everyday about their kids’ inability to handle mistakes or cope with imperfection in sports. As a matter of fact, 43% of sports parents and coaches we surveyed agreed that kids struggle to let go and stay composed after mistakes. For this reason, we have an exciting new Workbook and CD program for parents, coaches, and their young athletes--available at the end of the week.... [Read More...]
