Sports Parenting

Sports parenting and youth sports psychology articles for sports parents of young athletes to improve mental game and performance in kids

What Athletes Learn From the US Open Upset? [Podcast]

Ultimate Sports Parent Podcast

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

Why Sports Kids Resist Mental Game Training—And What Parents Should Do

Building Confidence in Young Athletes

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

Why “I Can’t” Statements Hurt Young Athletes

Youth Sports Psychology

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

How To Interview And Choose The Right Coach

Youth Sports Psychology

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

Sports Parents Make Mistakes, Too

Youth Sports Psychology

Mistakes in Sports Parents Often, we receive emails from sports parents confessing they did the opposite of what we recommend in our programs and online tips. Like their kids, they can be very hard on themselves. They focus on their mistakes and can’t seem to get their minds off them. … Read Sport Psychology Tip