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.

How Parents Can Help Young Athletes Improve in Sports Without Pressuring Them?

Youth Sports Psychology

Helping Young Athletes Improve Without Pressure Do you ever wonder how to help your young athletes make the most of their talents—without pressuring them? If so, you’re not alone. In our survey of sports parents, a whopping 68% said they struggle with this question. For example, your kids may be … Read Sport Psychology Tip

Top Reasons Why Sports Kids Avoid Mental Training

Youth Sports Psychology

Mental Training is The Key to Success Parents and coaches, if you want your sports kids to understand that mental training can be the key to unlocking their potential, first you have to know why kids avoid it… It’s important for you to know that a whopping 53% of the … Read Sport Psychology Tip

Young Athlete Who Freeze Up During Games

Youth Sports Psychology

Perfectionistic Sports Kids And Mistakes Sports mom Dawn is grappling with a classic challenge in sports: Her 10-year-old son is a great baseball player who hits every pitch at practice and in the batting cages. But lately, he just can’t hit a ball during a game, she says. “We don’t … Read Sport Psychology Tip

How to Help Kids Be “Winning” Losers in Youth Sports

Ultimate Sports Parent Podcast

Making The Most Out of Losses How can you teach your kids to make the most out of losses? Lots of ways, says Frank J. Sileo, Ph.D, a psychologist with more than 16 years’ experience working with kids and families, and the author of “Sally Sore Loser:  A Story about Winning … Read Sport Psychology Tip

Helping Young Athletes Cope with Mistakes and Grow

Youth Sports Psychology

Help Kids Move on After Making Mistakes College basketball coach John Wooden—who won ten NCAA national championships in a 12-year period—said the team that makes the most mistakes will win most often. But athletes lose when they make mistakes, you might argue. Not so. Athletes—especially young athletes—who aren’t afraid of … Read Sport Psychology Tip

How To Help Kids Keep Confidence in The Face of Favoritism

Youth Sports Psychology

Confidence Busters in Youth Sports A sports mom writes us that her daughter’s basketball coach has different rules for different kids. If some kids make mistakes during a game, they still get to be starters in the next game. However, if her daughter makes the same mistakes, she doesn’t get … Read Sport Psychology Tip