Kids in sports articles and tips for sports parents, young athletes, and youth coaches to improve mental performance and overall consistency in sports.
Andy Whittier knows how to cope with pressure. He transitioned from playing college football to representing the U.S. in the skeleton sport, a solo, head-first sled race down an icy track at speeds of up to 89 mph. At first, it was terrifying, he said during an interview with our … Read Sport Psychology Tip
What Athletes Can Do When Coaches Pick Favorites Parents are very emotional about their kids’ youth sports experiences. They invest a significant amount of money in youth sports, which raises their expectations. Because of these factors, they may feel that coaches favor other players when their kids aren’t getting the playing time … Read Sport Psychology Tip
How Does Mental Coaching Help Youth Athletes? SUMMARY: Young athletes train their bodies every day, but mental training is just as important for long-term success. Many young athletes struggle with fragile confidence, performance anxiety, or difficulty focusing during competition. Mental coaching helps them develop skills like self-talk, reset routines, and … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Can Young Athlete Train Their Brain to Perform Like a Pro? Visualization in youth sports works—and if athletes receive feedback in real time, they can improve their focus and performance, said Konstantin Sonkin, a neuroscientist and CEO at i-BrainTech. He developed a sports-specific training game platform that offers insights into … Read Sport Psychology Tip
When athletes’ identities are wrapped up in sports, they can experience pressure and high expectations. What’s more, they might become disappointed if they go to college and are no longer the stars they were on their high school teams, said Zedralyn Butler, author of The Mental State of Sports and … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Forty-two percent of children report being bullied by coaches or physical education teachers. Common bullying programs don’t work, said Tom Dahlborg, president and CEO of Dahlborg HealthCaring Leadership Group. Bullying can make kids depressed, anxious and even suicidal. Dahlborg is working to implement better anti-bullying programs, including creating a team … Read Sport Psychology Tip