Kids in sports articles and tips for sports parents, young athletes, and youth coaches to improve mental performance and overall consistency in sports.
Building Confidence in Kids Some athletes seem to ooze confidence. They appear unfazed during championship games, in the final minutes of a contest or when trailing late in a game. Why do these athletes have unwavering confidence? Is there something in their DNA that generates confidence? Confidence is not genetic. If sports kids … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Our brain tends to lean toward negativity. “The brain doesn’t understand today the difference between protecting us from a lion or a snake and protecting us from emotional states,” said Debbie O ‘Connell, president, Live Positive and Golf Positive and vice president, LPGA Northeast section. The brain tends to embrace negative emotional … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Do Your Kids Embrace the Underdog Role? When athletes are the underdog, they have two choices: believing they can win or believing they will lose. If kids believe they are going to lose, their bodies and minds will likely follow suit. They won’t prepare fully. Self-doubt will take over their … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Without grit and discipline, young athletes won’t be successful, said Cary Knox, retired head coach and author of I Believe, which explores the legacies of Illinois sports legends. “You have to be gritty to be successful in just about anything you do,” he said. “You have to have a willingness to get … Read Sport Psychology Tip
How do you Deal with Disappointment as an Athlete Disappointment comes in all shapes and sizes for young athletes. They may experience losses, underperform in a competition, have reduced playing minutes, fall short of a personal best or fail to make a cut for a championship meet. Every athlete in … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Young athletes often stop enjoying sports because they’re perfectionists, compare themselves to others or “mind read,” or make assumptions about what others are thinking, according to Jaclyn Ellis, a mental performance coach at Peak Performance Sports Related Kids Sports Psychology Articles: *Subscribe to The Sports Psychology Podcast on iTunes*Subscribe to The Sports … Read Sport Psychology Tip