Studies show that when kids skip breakfast, they have a harder time focusing, are irritable and distracted by hunger. This can lead to anxiety and lower performance in sports, said Steph Magill, a registered dietitian who specializes in sports nutrition and is a sports parent to two teens. She recently was a … Read Sport Psychology Tip
When sports kids see other young athletes performing well in social media clips, they make comparisons, which can sink their confidence. Often, a 10-second clip on social media involves many takes, and can be misleading. But sports don’t always realize this and feel like they don’t measure up, said John … Read Sport Psychology Tip
A Slump or Losing Streak Starts as Nothing Unusual Every athlete and team occasionally experiences bad games or unproductive performances. So, what turns a few bad games into a performance rut? What commonalities trap a player or team in a cycle of under performance? If your sports kids can identify … Read Sport Psychology Tip
How to Deal With Distractions Sports kids struggle with a number of distractions. They include: These examples are external distractions. While external distractions are bothersome, they are not the most formidable challenge for athletes. Internal distractions are much more destructive and difficult to manage, particularly the “what if” trap. ‘What … Read Sport Psychology Tip
When athletes feel pressure, they naturally tend to panic, said Conor Hogan, author of The Gym Upstairs: The Neuroscience of Future Champions. If they understand some of the neuroscience of sports, they can calm themselves with techniques like visualization and meditation, he said. Listen to Learn More: Related Articles on … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Do Your Young Athletes Focus Too Much on Mistakes? Do they criticize their performance instead of focusing on learning from their mistakes? And do they ignore what they did well? If so, your sports kids are likely perfectionists. They tend to be hard on themselves after they compete, which undermines … Read Sport Psychology Tip