Keeping Game Time Focus in The Present Sophie is a 7th grade cross-country runner who has trouble letting go of past losses. She assumes one loss will lead to another. This is a common challenge for young athletes. They make generalizations about one bad game or race. If it happened … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Instilling Confidence in Young Athletes Why is confidence so important in youth sports? Because it’s a cure-all. It’s that simple. When kids feel confident, they don’t get scared. They don’t get worried or tense. They believe their skills are just as good as their competitors’. Confident athletes recover easily from … Read Sport Psychology Tip
What to Avoid As a Sports Parent If you want to know what NOT to do as sports parents and coaches, read on. We received this letter from a parent and former coach of a soccer player in the 10-12 –year-old age group. “My child’s coach has three assistant coaches … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Motivate Young Athletes Without Pressuring Them Sam, a Division III basketball player, says it’s hard for him to motivate himself unless his coaches are watching him and pushing him along. As a young athlete, Sam’s not alone. We hear from many parents who say that their kids of all ages … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Sports Kids’ Confidence Sources Do your young athletes seek approval from their peers and coaches in order to feel confident about their abilities in sports? That’s true of Miguel, a 20-year-old who has played basketball recreationally for many years. He says that when his confidence sinks, he counts on his … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Sports Kids’ And Making Comparisons What do you do when your young athlete’s confidence sinks every time a talented friend or teammate excels in sports? This is a common problem for young athletes. Kids are social beings—and they tend to compare themselves to their friends. But in sports, this is … Read Sport Psychology Tip