Kids in Sports Articles

Kids in sports articles and tips for sports parents, young athletes, and youth coaches to improve mental performance and overall consistency in sports.

When Positive Encouragement Backfires in Young Athletes

Youth Sports Psychology

How To Handle Positive Encouragement Hi, Dr. Cohn here from The Ultimate Sports Parent. This past weekend I took my 9-year-old daughter to play her 4th tennis tournament as a rookie. She played two matches total. She lost the first match, but stayed very composed. Afterward, I did everything by … Read Sport Psychology Tip

Negative Feedback: A Confidence Buster for Young Athletes

How to Help Sports Kids Overcome Pressure in Sports

By Lisa Cohn and Dr. Patrick Cohn Mike, a sports dad to an 11-year-old who plays high-level baseball, is worried about his son’s confidence. Jim’s baseball coach often singles Jim out for making mistakes. As a result, the kids on the team also comment when Jim makes mistakes. Mike says … Read Sport Psychology Tip

Sports Parents: Why Sports Kids Need Great Coaching

In a minute, we’re going to give you great tips from Dr. John McCarthy, director of Boston University’s Institute for Athletic Coach Education, who we interviewed recently.Dr. McCarthy has lots to tell you about youth coaches: why they’re so important in today’s society and what makes them a positive-or negative-influence … Read Sport Psychology Tip

Youth Sports: An Athlete’s “Emotional Tank”

Youth Sports Psychology

Building Confidence in Young Athletes How can parents and coaches fill a young athlete’s “emotional tank?” Coaches need to praise kids five times before they provide one piece of constructive criticism, says David Jacobson, a spokesman for the Positive Coaching Alliance, based at Stanford University. “We liken a child’s emotional … Read Sport Psychology Tip