Mental Training For Young Athletes
A parent tells us that it’s hard convincing her 15-year-old daughter that she could benefit from mental training—specifically some of the materials on our website.
The teen doesn’t believe in the value of efforts to boost her mental game.
It’s common for sports kids to avoid mental training or poo-poo it because they don’t believe in it. They embrace a lot of myths about mental training. Here’s just one:
MYTH #1: “I don’t need to improve my mental toughness – I’m already mentally tough.”
Parents often complain to us when kids have this attitude.
Even kids who are mentally tough can find ways to improve their game.
If your athletes use this as a reason for avoiding training, gently focus on some of the challenges that might indicate a need to embrace mental game training.
–Do they excel in practice, but freeze up during games?
–Do they get distracted by the sound of the crowd cheering?
–Do they worry about what others think of them?
–Do they feel bad after a loss or poor performance for longer than one hour?
If so, mental training could enhance their game.
MYTH #2: “I am playing well right now. I don’t want a mental coach to mess up my momentum.”
If your kids say they’re playing so well they don’t want to lose their momentum, be sure to tell them it’s time to take a step back and identify the thoughts and feelings that help them play well – so they can harness them at a later date.
If they can better understand what’s making them so successful, they’ll be better able to recreate those thoughts and feelings in other competitive situations. They’ll also be able to recreate them when they lose momentum.
Using this strategy, they’ll achieve peak performance more often.
Related Articles on Kids’ Mental Game:
- How to Explain Mental Training to Teens
- Why Young Athletes Avoid Mental Training
- Mental Training Programs For Young Athletes
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Improve Your Mental Game From Anywhere In The World
We’re certain that, as a parent, you want to help your child develop confidence and discipline in sports and life. And as a sports parent, you’d love for your children to reach their potential in sports. But encouraging your child to strive for greatness without pressuring them can be a challenge.
You can get expert mental coaching with us from anywhere. Meet with us via Zoom, Skype, FaceTime or phone call. With today’s video technology, we are able to connect with athletes and coaches all over the globe.
Call Us Today to Schedule Your Free 15-Minute Session.
Find Out How Your Athlete Can Benefit From One-on-One Mental Coaching!