Listen to our youth sport podcast to hear tips on how to best support your young athlete to help them grow in confidence and navigate sport specific challenges.
Why Steroid Use is A Big Distraction for Sports Kids Steroid use is a big distraction for sports kids-even if they’re not using steroids (and we hope they don’t). Why? Kids read about top-level athletes using steroids. It’s in the news all the time. This directs their focus on the … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Fear of Failure in Sports Kids Courtney Johnson, a former silver Olympic medalist who is now a sports parent, says parents can predict what kind of mental game issues their kids will experience in sports-if they simply pay attention. And they need to pay attention, she says. Mental toughness is … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Dropout Rates Among Female Athlete Young women drop out of sports—starting at about the age of 13—at twice the rate of young men, says Dr. Joan Steidenger, a licensed psychologist who works with athletes. Why? It’s all about their relationships, says Steidenger, who is writing a book about girls in … Read Sport Psychology Tip
The “I Want it Now” Attitude One of the biggest challenges sports kids face is a “I want it now” attitude, says Kirk Mango, a three-time Hall of Fame Athlete, National Champion and author of “Becoming A True Champion.” If kids are going to make the most of their youth … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Boosting Sports Kids’ Confidence What’s one of the most important things adults can do to boost young athletes’ confidence? They should help build a positive team culture, says Danny Cullinane, a coach and sports parent in England who lectures about sports development. He should know. He’s charged with the job … Read Sport Psychology Tip
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