How Do Superstitions Hurt Performance?
You’ve heard kids say things like, “I need to wear my blue striped boxers under my uniform at the game today in order to do well; that’s what I wore last time we won.”
Or, “I have to eat chocolate chip pancakes before my game today; that’s what I ate last time I was the top scorer.”
Most kids harbor these kinds of ideas. But truth is, such ideas are irrational superstitions—and they often undermine kids’ performance and confidence.
When kids harbor goofy or irrational beliefs, they assume that something that happened once will happen over and over.
But what happens when they wear their blue-striped boxers over and over, and keep losing? Kids lose confidence.
You can boost young athletes’ confidence by helping them identify such beliefs, and explain that these thoughts often work against sports kids—not for them.
What’s more, don’t feed such superstitions by suggesting that they wear their blue-striped boxers every game!
After you’ve helped kids identify such beliefs, ask them to replace these superstitions with positive routines.
Instead of kids’ relying on superstitions, suggest that, before a game, kids remind themselves of their talents in sports, focus on the process, and let go of expectations.
Pregame routines are based on science, superstitions are based on luck.
Want to learn more about how kids hurt their confidence with negative beliefs and other confidence busters?
We’ve got a tried-and-true program for you called “The Confident Sports Kid: A 7-Day Plan for Building Self-Confidence in Young Athletes.”
It’s really two programs in one—a CD and manual for you, and a CD and workbook for your young athletes. You can check it out here:
The Confident Sports Kid CD and Workbook
What do parents and coaches say about our resources?
“Just a quick note to say I have been following your work for the past year via these communications and as a mom of four kid athletes and a life coach to retiring elite athletes I thoroughly value and love the messaging you so generously share with world!”
~Lynette Rumble
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The Confident Sports Kid program is actually two programs: one that teaches sports parents how to boost their kids’ confidence, and another that teaches young athletes age 8 to 12 how to improve their self talk, avoid negative thinking, overcome expectations that limit confidence, and much more.
Read more about The Confident Sports Kid
What are parents and coaches saying?
“Each Race He Was More Calm, Composed, And Relaxed”
“I just wanted to say thank you for your wonderful programs. My son Kai was one of the fastest 10 and under swimmers in Southern California and after he “aged up” to the 11-12 group he really lost confidence swimming against the much faster and bigger boys. He started with the Confident Sports Kids series and really enjoyed each and every lesson. He then started the Composed Kid series and built on the important building blocks that he was using from the first series. I so happy to report that Kai was able to swim to best times in each and every event he swam at the biggest and most important meet of the year in So Cal, the Club Championships. Each race he was more calm, composed, and relaxed. The final race was one that he was ranked last and one of his goals was to try for top 16…he was 49th! He cut over 4 seconds off his time ending up in 17th. He was ecstatic to say the least.”
~DD Bartley
Help Young Athletes Boost Confidence in Sports!
Do your young athletes:
- Criticize themselves often after making mistakes?
- Freeze up and look scared when faced with competitive pressure?
- Lose confidence after working with a negative coach?
- Perform like stars in practice but freeze up or play tentatively during games or competitions?
If so, check out The Ultimate Sports Parent!
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Get proven strategies form leading youth sports experts!
The Ultimate Sports Parent: a 14-Day Plan For Kids’ Success in Sports
What are sports parents saying?
“Performed without Fear and Focus on the Process”
“The Ultimate Sports Parent Workbook Program totally changed our families approach to sports and I am so very grateful. My boys 7 and 10 are able to deal better with negative coaches, perform without fear, and focus way less results and focus better the process. One boy was amazingly able to regain composure and end the season with a positive attitude. I am on your web site all the time and am currently beginning The Confident Athlete series.”
~Sarah Bateman, Sports Parent
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“We have purchased all of your CD’s, my child has gone through The Focused, Confident, Composed, and Fearless Athlete Programs. And I just listened to the Ultimate Sports Parent CD. I can’t tell you enough how helpful these have been. My child just played in a major competition and he maintained total composure, fought in competition mode not training mode, was totally confident. THANK YOU! I really believe that God lead me to your web site.”
~Sports Parent
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