How to Help Athletes be Relaxed before a Game Parents want to know what to tell their athletes before a game that will help them perform well and feel less pressure… For example, parents say: *Do you coach your kids on what to do? *Do you let them mentally prepare on their own? *Do you wait for them to talk about the game before saying anything? Just before a game, you want to … [Read more...]
When Kids Worry About Others Judging Them
How to Help Young Athletes Overcome Worry A sports parent wrote to us recently to say… "My son is a top player but cannot perform any longer in matches when there is a crowd watching. He is 17, however he is as tight as a drum when playing matches now." "He still wins but says he only gets 20% of his ability to come through because he’s so tight. He loses to better players because of … [Read more...]
Why Young Athletes Avoid Mental Training
Athletes' Acceptance of Mental Training Often, young athletes don’t understand the benefits of mental game training. They say they’re already mentally strong. Or they’re afraid that they’ll have to sit on a couch and reveal their innermost vulnerabilities. Mostly, they don’t understand what mental game training is--or its benefits. To help sports kids embrace the benefits, let them hear … [Read more...]
The Expectations Trap for Perfectionists
Young Athletes who are Perfectionist "I have a son, age 15. He is skilled in many sports at school. Rugby, Hockey, XC running and Athletics (sprint and long jump where he holds the school record in both these)." "When he makes a mistake he can ‘lose’ it and can be seen to ‘give in’. In team sport it could be that he thinks he didn’t make that tackle and should have, his head can go down and … [Read more...]
Parents: Are Your Athletes Having Fun?
How to Keep Athletes in the Game A sports parent asks: “My son is a HS freshman with huge potential in football but is not wanting to pursue it, he says he does not feel ‘passionate’ about it, even after being told by a few retired coaches and refs that he could definitely get a scholarship. He's saying that he doesn't want to play football now and I think he is wasting huge potential. I … [Read more...]
Athletes who Get Benched for Mistakes
Athletes who Fear Mistakes A young athlete writes, “Sometimes I feel as if I don’t want to keep playing club volleyball and as a person who truly LOVES volleyball I have never ever met a team and coach who puts me down when I make a mistake rather than get me backup and help me improve. Every time I make a mistake my (current) coach tends to take me out of the game and let the other girls play and … [Read more...]
Helping Low-Income Kids With Bullying in Sports
Kaig Lightner, founder of Portland Community Football, a soccer club for low-income kids, says one of his main challenges is helping the kids--many of them Hispanic--deal with bullying. “These are 10-year-olds who get called racist names on the field. We have to work with the kids and help them figure out how to work through their frustration and anger in these situations,” says Lightner. … [Read more...]
Parents: Do You Want Kids to Have Fun or Perform Well?
How to Focus on The Fun in Youth Sports A sports mom wrote: "My son is 8 years old and has been playing hockey since he was 4. He has been on the “travel” team for two years now... He loves to play but has absolutely no drive to win. I do not know how to change his mentality to understand that sports are not just for enjoyment but are also to be won, especially team sports." The parents of … [Read more...]
When Athletes Play to Not Make Mistakes
Why Do Young Athletes Fear Failure? A sports parent asks: "Our 12-year-old son is having challenges in baseball. He is playing not to make mistakes and seems to have lost his aggression and effectiveness. He is also the smallest, youngest kid on the team. What tips might you have for him?" When kids play to avoid mistakes, they’re struggling with fear of failure in which they often worry about … [Read more...]
Why Sports Parents Should Drop the Sports Fan Mindset
How to Encourage Sports Kids to Stay in Sports It's important for sports parents to drop the sports fan mindset when watching their kids perform, said Bob Katz, a journalist, former sports dad and author of the kids' book "EZ and the Intangibles” in a recent interview. "We are a nation of sports fans," said Katz. "We tend to be sports crazed." Katz argues that the informality and fun integral to … [Read more...]
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