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 Mental Game Skills Help Kids in Academics and Life
Popular coach Billy Zufall is serious about ensuring sports participation teaches kids critical skills that they can transfer to other areas of their lives. In fact, that’s one of his main goals as director of coaching for the boys’ and girls’ soccer teams at Highland High School. It’s likely one of the reasons he won the Medina County Coach of the Year for three years in a row. Why do we at Kids’ Sports Psychology think this topic is so... [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...]
Encouraging Sports Kids without Pressuring Them
Just how can sports parents encourage kids to take part in sports and support them—without pressuring them? That’s a good question, and the answers are not so obvious. Read on to get tips from Olympic fencer Tim Morehouse, who says his parents knew just how to support him as he grew into an Olympic athlete. “I was very fortunate,” he says. “My parents encouraged me to do different things that I loved.” The key, when kids are very young,... [Read More...]
What Hurts Young Athletes’ Confidence in Sports?
We believe that confidence is the most important asset that leads athletes to sporting excellence. It’s critical for your kids to feel confident—to believe in their abilities—in order to realize their physical potential. Confidence helps them bounce back after mistakes, hang in there when things get tough, transfer the skills they learn in practice to competition, and much more! “You still have to have confidence. If you don’t have... [Read More...]
