Sports Parenting

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

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

Helping Young Athletes Trust in Their Skills

Youth Sports Psychology

Performing With Trust And Freedom in Youth Sports Do your sports kids excel in practice, but freeze up in competition? Do they have a hard time just being spontaneous and free when they compete? If so, you might need to help your child trust his or her athletic ability… Freezing … Read Sport Psychology Tip

Helping Perfectionistic Sports Kids

How Overuse Injuries Affect Athletes’ Mindset

Overcoming Perfectionism in Youth Sports Often, we hear from parents who worry about young athletes who are too hard on themselves. You’re likely familiar with these types of athletes. They’re perfectionists! Perfectionists athletes criticize themselves for making mistakes, often hold very high expectations for themselves, and get frustrated easily after … Read Sport Psychology Tip