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...]
How One Athlete’s Confidence Thrived–With A Little Help
Jane’s 10-year-old son was a talented golfer who fell apart during competitions. Like many perfectionists, he had high expectations and became easily frustrated if he didn’t meet them. How did this young athlete transform his mental game and performance in short six months, even winning a regional tournament in southern Spain? The Answer may surprise you. Read on to find out… Jane’s son’s challenges, Jane says, were twofold.... [Read More...]
How Parents’ Expectations Hurt Athletes’ Confidence
Youth coach Doug Donaldson says he knows intuitively when one of his young athletes feels pressured by a parent’s expectations. And he also knows the problems such well-meaning expectations can create in young athletes. For example, one of his player’s mothers wants the child to play goalie in Lacrosse. But when the mother isn’t listening, the boy says he wants to play defense. “It’s a real quandary for him. He’s looking for Mom and worrying... [Read More...]
When Kids’ Self-Esteem Suffers After They Lose
Colton, a motocross racer, has lots of confidence. But he hates to lose. He hates to lose so much that it takes up to a day to recover after a losing, he says. Here at the Ultimate Sports Parent and Kids’ Sports Psychology, we think it’s okay to be competitive, like Colton. It motivates kids to work hard in practice and game situations. But when they’re so focused on winning that it takes them up to a day to recover from a loss, they likely... [Read More...]
One Sports Parent’s Story About Perfectionism and The Mental Game
We recently checked in with Jane, a tennis pro, and her son, Jeff, a Division I tennis player. Jane had a lot to say about the value of focusing on the “mental game.” Why should you be interested in Jane’s story? Because it’s a classic example of a talented kid who’s his own worst enemy—because of his mental game. Read on to learn how Jane and Jeff conquered this challenge. Early on in his tennis career, Jeff was a... [Read More...]
