Sports parenting and youth sports psychology articles for sports parents of young athletes to improve mental game and performance in kids
Postgame Communication With Sports Kids Parents, even when the game is over, you need to be careful about how you communicate with your young athletes. Often, parents are tempted to harp on sports kids’ mistakes after a game. In the first in a series of podcasts, mental game expert Dr. … Read Sport Psychology Tip
What Sports Kids Can Learn From The US Open What can sports kids learn from the US Open semifinal Upset? Kids can learn a lot from underdog Roberta Vinci’s surprise win over Serena Williams during the US Open’s semifinals… Serena Williams is viewed as the best tennis player in the … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Do you have a sports kid who excels in practice, but freezes up during games? Does your sports kid criticize herself or himself for making mistakes? As soon as your young athlete has goofed up during a game or competition, does he or she freeze up and play it safe? … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Mentally strong athletes—those who have done some mental game training—don’t balk after making mistakes. They don’t call themselves negative names. And they’re often great team players because they’re so positive. Truth is, however, that sports kids resist mental training, and miss out on these and other important benefits. Why? Because … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Positive Thinking in Youth Sports “I can’t make three-pointers.” “I can’t keep that big guy from scoring.” “I can’t score goals with my left foot.” “I can’t” statements hurt kids’ confidence. This is called negative thinking, and it’s a mental game no-no. Lots of kids embrace this kind of thinking … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Interviewing A New Coach As the summer winds down and you’re preparing for fall, it’s critical to ensure your kids have a coach whose style and philosophy builds their confidence. Whether your young athletes are already on a team or will be with a coach for the first time, it’s … Read Sport Psychology Tip