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...]
When Talented Kids with Bad Attitudes Get More Playing Time
One of our readers recently asked a great question: Why do hard-working, less talented kids generally get less playing time than the talented athletes who have not-so-great work ethics and attitudes? “My son plays ice hockey and is a goalie,” says our reader, a sports dad. “He is small but very hard working and admittedly less talented than the team’s other goalie but not greatly.” “The biggest difference between the two goalies... [Read More...]
How Are Sports Kids Their Own Worst Enemies?
Just how many ways can young athletes sabotage their sports performance? In lots of ways, says Dr. Harold Shinitzky, a sports psychologist and author of “Your Mind: An Owner’s Manual for a Better Life.” “A lot of athletes, based on how they think of themselves, engage in behaviors that interfere with their ultimate performance. That’s the saboteur,” he says. Examples? When kids decide to eat poorly, get little sleep, or engage in other... [Read More...]
When Coaches Yell, Insult and Intimidate Sports Kids
Have your sports kids ever had a coach who yelled at, insulted or intimidated them? If so, read on. We’ve got some tips—and warnings—for you about what we call “bully coaches.” First of all, our warning. Coaches who teach by being negative or intimidating can really hurt your kids’ confidence and enjoyment of sports. No, these coaches do NOT toughen up your young athletes, as they might insist. They don’t improve kids’ performance,... [Read More...]
Parent Communication with Sports Kids Who Lash Out
What exactly is going on in the minds of young athletes when they throw a bat after striking out, storm out of a gym after a loss, or cry when their team suffers a big upset? And how should you deal with this behavior? First of all, if you really want to understand the young athlete, don’t judge such behavior, says Gary Kramer, founder of Inner-Sports, which is an innovator in behavioral evaluation and coaching. Before parents and coaches react... [Read More...]
