Youth sports psychology articles and strategies for sports parents of young athletes to improve mental game and performance.
What is Stable Confidence Some kids’ confidence changes depending on the record or ability of their opponents. They only feel confident when they compete against weaker opponents and are less confident against tougher competition. Young athletes’ confidence sinks when they become “wowed” by their opponents’ record, skills or talent level. … Read Sport Psychology Tip
How to Build Mental Endurance In Young Athletes Young athletes can quickly become tempted to give in mentally when they’re trailing by a considerable margin or competing during unfavorable circumstances. This is especially true when they think the odds are not in their favor. How can sports kids flip the … Read Sport Psychology Tip
How Overuse Injuries Can Undermine Your Mental Game That’s the message from Robert Weil, a sports podiatrist and host of the Sports Doctor Radio Show. He recently was a guest on our Ultimate Sports Parent podcast. It’s important to understand the pressures that lead to overuse injuries, he says. First … Read Sport Psychology Tip
It’s Easy to Assume Young Athletes Want to Win Games That’s not what the research reveals, says Bill Eckstrom, CEO of Ecsell Sports and Ecsell Institute and co-author of The Coaching Effect. He recently chatted with us as a guest on our Ultimate Sports Parent podcast. Ecsell Sports conducted focus … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Every Athlete Experiences Rough Spots or Slumps Many times, young athletes get in trouble when they focus too much on their most recent disappointing results. This trap is called being mentally “nearsighted.” They focus too much on their recent bad results or performance slump. They tend to expect to be … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Turn Negative Comments into Motivation What fuels your sports kids’ motivation? Wins, personal bests, rewards, awards and compliments are positive ways young athletes are motivated. When kids’ coaches, teammates or parents believe in kids, they will feel that extra spark and “go for it. But what if others don’t believe … Read Sport Psychology Tip