Applying The 3 R’s of Refocusing in Youth Sports
It may sound silly, but sports kids can get really distracted by what they’re wearing and what their teammates and opponents are wearing.
Take swimmers, for example. One middle school student tells us she gets really distracted by overweight guys in tight Speedos. And she gets off-track when she worries about what she looks like in her own swimsuit.
Other young athletes get off-track if they think the opponents have fancier uniforms or equipment than they do.
It’s a fact of life: Kids, especially in their teens, are easily distracted by bathing suits, bathing caps, tube socks and other sports garb. And being distracted is a mental game no-no.
It hurts kids’ confidence, enjoyment and performance. You can help your sports kids with such distractions.
You’ll need to help them refocus and get back on track so they can perform better. We call this strategy the Three R’s of Refocusing.
First, recognize the distraction. It’s a good idea for kids to know, long before a game or competition, what things distract them so they can quickly identify them when they lose focus.
Second, they need to Regroup — or stop thinking about whatever is distracting them. This helps them interrupt the distraction…
Next, they need to Refocus on the task at hand–the next play, pitch, run, or shot.
In order to refocus well, they need to answer a simple question, “What do I need to focus on RIGHT NOW for this play, shot, run, or pitch?”
For example, a soccer player may need to focus on making her next attacking play on offense.
In addition to using the 3 R’s for refocusing, young athletes can implement pre-game routines to help them focus. These help them stay in the here-and-now, and help them avoid getting distracted.
For example, a pre-race routine for swimmers could include these steps:
– Let go of the last race
– Adjust goggles/cap
– Loosen up arms
– Stretch
– Reaffirm your objective for the start
– Rehearse a part of the swing
– Create a plan for the race
Many young athletes—and their parents—don’t understand that focusing is a skill, and they can improve their focusing skills, just like they work on improving their physical skills.
Related Articles on Youth Sports:
- How To Refocus Quickly When Distracted
- Teaching Young Athletes How To Refocus When Distracted
- Helping Sports Kids Who Are Easily Distracted
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Help Your Young Athletes Improve Focus In Sports!
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