Encouraging Sports Kids Bjorn, a 12-year-old hockey player, joined a AAA team after three years of playing hockey, and suddenly found himself surrounded by other athletes with 7 or 8 years’ experience, while he only had three years’ experience. The other players didn’t pass to him and the coach initially didn’t let him on the ice for “penalty kills” because he wasn’t the fastest … [Read more...] about Helping Young Athletes Who Aren’t Getting the Chance to Show Their Talent [Podcast]
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Ensuring Kids are Focused, Immersed and Engaged in Youth Sports [Podcast]
Ensuring Sports Kids Are Focused Too often, sports kids simply go through the motions in youth sports, says Bobby Kipper, a former college coach and co-author of the book, "Performance Driven Thinking." "The kids are there physically, but their minds are not there," he says. "They're not giving their all." Too often, their minds are occupied with their other activities, including video games and … [Read more...] about Ensuring Kids are Focused, Immersed and Engaged in Youth Sports [Podcast]
Teaching Athletes to Feel The Pain of Failure with “Growth Mindsets” [Podcast]
Embracing Failure to Grow in Youth Sports There's two ways young athletes can deal with failure and losses, says Eric DeMeulenaere, a Clark University professor, former soccer coach and author of "Reflections From the Field." They can look at losses from a growth mindset, which means feeling the pain and embracing ways to improve--or they can look at failure and loss from a fixed mindset, and … [Read more...] about Teaching Athletes to Feel The Pain of Failure with “Growth Mindsets” [Podcast]
Kids Would Rather Lose and Get to Play the Whole Game [Podcast]
Playing Time in Youth Sports Here's an interesting study result: If young athletes have to choose between losing and getting to play the whole game, they choose playing time. That's a tidbit from Steven Frierman, a professor at Hofstra University and a former youth sports coach. Yes, that's right. Winning isn't everything to young sports kids, he says. Often, having fun, being with friends, … [Read more...] about Kids Would Rather Lose and Get to Play the Whole Game [Podcast]
Athletes Who Use Steroids Negatively Influence Youth Athletes [Podcast]
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 importance of winning at all costs-which is a mental game no-no. That's the word from Kirk Mango, national … [Read more...] about Athletes Who Use Steroids Negatively Influence Youth Athletes [Podcast]
The Value of Kids Learning to Support Teammates [Podcast]
Supporting Teammates in Youth Sports When kids strike out at bat on Brad Jubin's baseball team, the other players standing in the dugout raise four fingers to show their support. This is a great way to lift young kids' spirits after they make mistakes, says the co-founder of "A Team That Always Plays for Each Other." "The other kids are telling their friends, 'Don't worry, we're here for you. … [Read more...] about The Value of Kids Learning to Support Teammates [Podcast]
Addressing Fear of Failure and Perfectionism By Adjusting Athletes’ Goals [Podcast]
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 critical in sports, as kids start getting involved at younger and younger ages. "As parents, you … [Read more...] about Addressing Fear of Failure and Perfectionism By Adjusting Athletes’ Goals [Podcast]
Early Sports Specialization for Young Athletes: The Pitfalls [Podcast]
Sport Specialization For Kids Jack Malley, sports dad, coach, and author of "Meet The Lunatics Who Run Your Kids' Sports Leagues," says he's made quite a few mistakes as a sports dad and coach. But allowing his kids to specialize was not one of those mistakes. For example, Malley once became irked at an opposing coach for putting a goalie in the goal when that coach's team was down by 15 … [Read more...] about Early Sports Specialization for Young Athletes: The Pitfalls [Podcast]
Cut Distractions and Make It Fun: Miami Dolphins’ Advice [Podcast]
Staying Focused in Youth Sports Sports kids would benefit much more from sports if they were less distracted and had more fun. That's the word from Troy Drayton, coordinator of youth programs for the Miami Dolphins. Drayton, who visits elementary and middle schools three days a week to teach about physical fitness and positive choices, says the biggest mental game challenge for kids is … [Read more...] about Cut Distractions and Make It Fun: Miami Dolphins’ Advice [Podcast]
Why Teenage Females Drop Out of Sports
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 sports and the importance of their relationships. Young women often feel pressure from … [Read more...] about Why Teenage Females Drop Out of Sports