Youth sports psychology articles and strategies for sports parents of young athletes to improve mental game and performance.
Sports Kids Who Worry About Injuries It’s no surprise that kids worry about getting injured in youth sports. But did you know that such worries undermine kids’ confidence, performance and enjoyment of sports? We recently chatted with Marcie Fyock, an instructor for George Mason University’s athletic training education program about … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Parents And Coaches: Help Athletes Avoid Distractions Parents and coaches, young athletes can become easily distracted especially during the spring season! First of all, there’s the weather. It’s so easy to get distracted when the weather is warmer and sunnier. Second, there’s all the excitement about the end of school … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Confidence When Trying New Youth Sports Lisa here from Kids’ Sports Psychology and the Ultimate Sports Parent… As a mom who played three sports, I’m very eager for my youngest, 5-year-old Michael, to play sports. But I signed him up for a soccer team and was quickly disappointed. He liked … Read Sport Psychology Tip
How Can Sports Parents Distract Kids? Unruly parents and crowds can really hurt kids’ confidence, says Gil Fried, professor and head of the sport management department at the University of New Haven and an expert on crowd control. Why? Just think about it. When athletes are trying to perform, what … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Anxiety in Youth Sports Nearly 20% of the population suffers from anxiety, and young athletes are no exception. In fact, kids who have mild anxiety might experience high anxiety in stressful sports situations. Parents and coaches, you can help identify when sports kids are suffering from anxiety- and determine how … Read Sport Psychology Tip
What Should Sports Kids Focus On? Too often, young athletes focus too much on outcomes, such as the score, the win, or their statistics. The problem? This prevents them from playing in the moment and hurts confidence. When they focus too much on winning and statistics, it’s easy to get … Read Sport Psychology Tip