Patrick Cohn

Patrick J. Cohn, Ph.D., earned his Ph.D. in Education from the University of Virginia in 1991, specializing in sports psychology, and founded Peak Performance Sports in 1994. Dr. Cohn is an author, professional speaker and one of the nation’s leading mental game coaches. His coaching programs for young athletes instill confidence, composure and effective mental strategies that enable athletes and teams to reach their performance goals.

The Number One Confidence Killer for Athletes

Youth Sports Psychology

High Expectations Verse High Confidence No matter what sport you play, if you focus too much on outcome expectations, your confidence will take a hit. I call this the confidence-expectation connection. Here’s the connection: When your expectations are super high—and you fail to achieve those expectations—confidence takes a hit. Here’s … Read Sport Psychology Tip

How Parents’ Sideline Behavior Can Hurt and Help Athletes

Youth Sports Psychology

Sports Parents’ Sideline Behavior And It’s Influence on Kids Recently, we told you about a study from Active Network about just how much parents’ behavior affects kids’ sports experience… Active found that kids are more likely to be interested in sports if their parents enjoy participating at the adult level. … Read Sport Psychology Tip

Help Sports Kids Train Their Brains for Performance [Podcast]

Ultimate Sports Parent Podcast

Performing in The Zone in Youth Sports Did you know that kids can train their brains to get into the best possible zone for performing? Read on, and you’ll get some fascinating tips from Dr. Diane Stoler, a neuropsychologist and author. There are a number of ways to change brain … Read Sport Psychology Tip

What Motivates Kids to Play Sports? This Will Surprise You [Podcast]

Ultimate Sports Parent Podcast

Motivating Kids to Play Sports How to motivate kids to play sports is a hot topic today, given all the news about obesity in our country. It’s also a hot topic for our readers and members, who often ask us what’s the best way to ensure their children are motivated … Read Sport Psychology Tip

Athletes Who Make Comparisons And How Parents Contribute

Youth Sports Psychology

Sports Kids And Parents Who Make Comparisons When sports kids compare themselves to others, it’s a big mental game no-no. When sports parents compare their kids to their peers, it’s an even bigger mental game no-no. But guess what? It’s really hard to resist. Lisa here to make a confession: … Read Sport Psychology Tip

Sports Parents: You Can Help Your Athletes if They Are Bullied

Youth Sports Psychology

How Can Parents Help Bullied Sports Kids In a recent survey of 650 parents on an online site about plastic surgery, 68% of parents surveyed said they would allow their teens to undergo plastic surgery to avoid bullying. The survey shows just how far parents will go to prevent their … Read Sport Psychology Tip