Sports Parenting

How Archery Builds Confidence and Focus in Kids

Building Confidence in Athletes

Archery can provide numerous benefits to kids–including building confidence, focus and success. Kids realize these benefits fairly quickly because they often find success as beginners, said Tommy Floyd, president of the National Archery in the Schools Program. The former school principal recently was a guest on our Ultimate Sports Parent … Read Sport Psychology Tip

The Link Between Sports Kids’ Mental Game and Mental Health

Building Confidence in Athletes

The mental game is critical to sports–and improving mental health can boost both kids’ mental game and performance. That’s the word from Laura Erickson-Schroth, chief medical officer at The Jed Foundation, which works in schools and sports organizations to help kids improve their mental health. Related Articles on Kids’ Mental … Read Sport Psychology Tip

How Youth Sports Coaches Can Build Resilience in Kids

Building Confidence in Athletes

Kids and teens say they lack connections with adults in their schools, says Paul Caccamo, CEO and founder, Up2Us, a coach training program. Youth coaches can fill in the gap and build resilience, improved focus and self-esteem in young athletes, he says. To meet that goal, Up2Us partners with schools … Read Sport Psychology Tip

How Nutrition Affects Sports Kids’ Focus and Performance

Building Confidence in Athletes

Studies show that when kids skip breakfast, they have a harder time focusing, are irritable and distracted by hunger. This can lead to anxiety and lower performance in sports, said Steph Magill, a registered dietitian who specializes in sports nutrition and is a sports parent to two teens. She recently was a … Read Sport Psychology Tip

How Sports Kids Can Avoid Panicking by Understanding Neuroscience

Building Confidence in Athletes

When athletes feel pressure, they naturally tend to panic, said Conor Hogan, author of The Gym Upstairs: The Neuroscience of Future Champions. If they understand some of the neuroscience of sports, they can calm themselves with techniques like visualization and meditation, he said. Listen to Learn More: Related Articles on … Read Sport Psychology Tip