Confidence For Young Athletes
A parent asked us in our recent survey, “How do you get kids ready and to games on time? What do you do to make them feel confident?”
It’s critical to understand that you, as parents, can’t MAKE your kids feel confident; athletes must earn their confidence and think confidently!
Too often, we see that sports kids rely too much on their parents and coaches to feel confident.
During games, for example, we see kids checking their parents’ and coach’s faces for approval and advice after every plan.
But the truth is, kids can—and need to—rely on themselves to feel confident!
How can kids can more SELF-confidence?
Kids can boost their own confidence in many, many ways.
For example, you can help them put together a “confidence resume” that details all their physical and mental strengths, great moments, and the moments that make them brim with pride.
Before competition, they can review their confidence resumes. And they can do this without the aid of parents and coaches.
Highlight video edits is another way for kids to feel more self-confident. When kids see themselves performing well in the past, they believe they can in the future.
In addition, kids can focus, just before a game, on just “going for it.” That means they need to stop practicing and become a competitor!
They must trust in their practice and the skills they’ve learned. They have to focus on getting the job done—and winning “ugly” if they have to, which is hard if you have a perfectionist.
That means they might not look graceful or technically perfect–but they’ll get the job done! And again, they can do that without relying on their parents.
We appreciate all the feedback we’re getting in response to our survey about pregame mistakes kids make before they compete (including the questions that began this email).
We want to hear from you, too, as we work on programs specific to your needs as a sports parent or coach.
If you have not provided your input, please complete the pregame survey so that we can focus as much as possible on your specific challenges!
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/pregame
What do parents and coaches say about the resources we’ve developed so far?
“I’m ABSOLUTELY LOVING your weekly videos and tips.”
~Alex Dunn
Help your kids understand what makes them feel most confident before a game–without the need to rely on others to feel confident before competition!
Check Out Our Video Of The Week, Sports Psychology Case Study – Finding Effortless Speed In Races!
Help Your Young Athletes Overcome Self-Doubt In Sports!
The Confident Sports Kid helps young athletes improve confidence quickly and overcome common confidence killers that destroy motivation and fun in sports!
This is a 7-day program for sports parents and kids to boost young athletes’ performance, happiness and success… in sports and life!
The Confident Sports Kid program is actually two programs: one that teaches sports parents how to boost their kids’ confidence, and another that teaches young athletes age 8 to 12 how to improve their self talk, avoid negative thinking, overcome expectations that limit confidence, and much more.
Read more about The Confident Sports Kid
What are parents and coaches saying?
“Each Race He Was More Calm, Composed, And Relaxed”
“I just wanted to say thank you for your wonderful programs. My son Kai was one of the fastest 10 and under swimmers in Southern California and after he “aged up” to the 11-12 group he really lost confidence swimming against the much faster and bigger boys. He started with the Confident Sports Kids series and really enjoyed each and every lesson. He then started the Composed Kid series and built on the important building blocks that he was using from the first series. I so happy to report that Kai was able to swim to best times in each and every event he swam at the biggest and most important meet of the year in So Cal, the Club Championships. Each race he was more calm, composed, and relaxed. The final race was one that he was ranked last and one of his goals was to try for top 16…he was 49th! He cut over 4 seconds off his time ending up in 17th. He was ecstatic to say the least.”
~DD Bartley
Help Young Athletes Boost Confidence in Sports!
Do your young athletes:
- Criticize themselves often after making mistakes?
- Freeze up and look scared when faced with competitive pressure?
- Lose confidence after working with a negative coach?
- Perform like stars in practice but freeze up or play tentatively during games or competitions?
If so, check out The Ultimate Sports Parent!
The Ultimate Sports Parent will teach you powerful mental toughness secrets to improve your child’s success in sports.
Get proven strategies form leading youth sports experts!
The Ultimate Sports Parent: a 14-Day Plan For Kids’ Success in Sports
What are sports parents saying?
“Performed without Fear and Focus on the Process”
“The Ultimate Sports Parent Workbook Program totally changed our families approach to sports and I am so very grateful. My boys 7 and 10 are able to deal better with negative coaches, perform without fear, and focus way less results and focus better the process. One boy was amazingly able to regain composure and end the season with a positive attitude. I am on your web site all the time and am currently beginning The Confident Athlete series.”
~Sarah Bateman, Sports Parent
“Maintained Total Composure!”
“We have purchased all of your CD’s, my child has gone through The Focused, Confident, Composed, and Fearless Athlete Programs. And I just listened to the Ultimate Sports Parent CD. I can’t tell you enough how helpful these have been. My child just played in a major competition and he maintained total composure, fought in competition mode not training mode, was totally confident. THANK YOU! I really believe that God lead me to your web site.”
~Sports Parent
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