Youth sports psychology articles and strategies for sports parents of young athletes to improve mental game and performance.
Sports Kids Too Focused on Social Approval If your sports kids worry about what their friends, team mates, parents, coaches and friends’ friends think of their performance, they’re not alone. This is a common challenge for sports kids—and a big confidence buster. For example, they may worry that their coaches … Read Sport Psychology Tip
The “I Want it Now” Attitude One of the biggest challenges sports kids face is a “I want it now” attitude, says Kirk Mango, a three-time Hall of Fame Athlete, National Champion and author of “Becoming A True Champion.” If kids are going to make the most of their youth … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Tackling Fear of Failure And Perfectionism If you and your sports kids are planning your New Year’s resolutions, we’ve got a good one for you: Try tackling the biggest mental game challenges most sports kids face. As we’ve mentioned before, fear of failure and perfectionism are the top challenges for … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Boosting Sports Kids’ Confidence What’s one of the most important things adults can do to boost young athletes’ confidence? They should help build a positive team culture, says Danny Cullinane, a coach and sports parent in England who lectures about sports development. He should know. He’s charged with the job … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Help Sports Kids Improve Confidence When it comes to confidence, kids can be their own worst enemies. That’s because they hang onto thoughts that hurt their confidence and performance—not understanding, of course, that they’re undermining their experience in sports. For example, they may constantly berate themselves by telling themselves they’re … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Keeping Sports Kids Focused During Holidays Parents, the holidays can be a distraction for sports kids—and that can hurt their focus and performance. Distractions can include thoughts or worries about holiday parties, dances, or other events. All this can create stress and tension in young athletes. As sports parents, you … Read Sport Psychology Tip