Comparisons Hurt Athletes’ Confidence When we surveyed parents, we found that 23% said that kids judge how their teammates are performing instead of focusing on their own play. Focusing on others’ play will distract your young athletes from their own game, and can become a major confidence killer. In the survey, parents said that kids compare themselves when they have friends who are … [Read more...]
Athletes Who Lack Confidence and Mental Game
What Mental Game Challenges Do Young Athlete Have? A sports parent wrote in and said: "My 14-year-old is a basketball player and an excellent shooter under most circumstances, but recently he has been missing free throws and shots in the fourth quarter. After the games, he seems dejected and sad, and it isn't getting any better. How can I help him boost his confidence?" As sports parents, you are … [Read more...]
How Nutrition Impacts Kids’ Confidence in Sports
What Should Sports Kids Eat on Game Day? There’s an important link between what kids eat and their confidence in sports, says Kimberly Lackey, founder of Empath Coaching. "When I think of confidence, I think of mood," she says. "You want to keep kids away from food that might sap energy or cause foul moods and steer them toward healthier options." Sugary foods, she says, can cause kids to … [Read more...]
Focus on Fun For Your Athletes, Not Scholarships
Helping Kids Experience The Benefits of Youth Sports "If your overriding goal for youth sports is a Division I scholarship, you need to rethink your priorities," said Larry Stone, a sports parent for 27 years in a recent column that appeared in the Seattle Times. "First of all, it’s probably not going to happen – that’s just the stark reality. Second of all, you’re likely to spend so much money … [Read more...]
How Proper Gear Boosts Confidence When Coming Back From An Injury
Helping Sports Kids Feel Confidence Again After Injury Coming back from an injury can be one of the toughest mental obstacles for athletes at all stages. Tracy McGrady, seven- time NBA all-star, spent eight straight seasons scoring more than 24 points per game before fading out in a flash after arthroscopic surgery. The surgery itself was not a huge deal – many athletes have come back from … [Read more...]
Why Communication is More Important for Athletes
How to Develop Confidence in Sports Kids Sports parents, and coaches alike, play an integral role in how your sports kids feel about the sports they play and their overall experiences. Often sports parents, however, can unwittingly hurt their kids’ confidence by being overly enthusiastic. For example, it makes many sports kids nervous or uncomfortable when their parents are too loud or … [Read more...]
When Athletes Compare Themselves to Others
Helping Young Athletes Focus On Their Talents A sports parent says: "My son is very tentative when playing basketball. He always has his eye on what others are doing—his teammates and his opponents. How can we help him play with more confidence?" This young athlete likely struggles with a common mental-game challenge: He makes too many comparisons to teammates and competitors. It’s pretty … [Read more...]
Keeping Sports Kids Motivated After Injuries
Regaining Confidence After Injury A sports parent asks: "How do my children stay motivated while coming back from a sports injury? They tend to play very conservatively and find it harder to work as hard or be as enthusiastic when coming back from such an injury." Often when your kids are coming back from injury, they are a little slow, a bit unsure, and out of rhythm. In addition, confidence … [Read more...]
Building Confidence in Sports Kids With Fairness
Helping Sports Kids Control Expectations If you’ve done a great job instilling in your sports kids a sense of right and wrong, they may have problems with a coach who appears to pick favorites. "Often, kids and parents alike will have perceived fairness issues, which can really take a toll on the kids’ confidence level," says Mark Lawton, a teacher and longtime coach who has led numerous teams … [Read more...]
Building Confidence in Young Athletes
Helping Sports Kids Overcome the Fear of Making Mistakes A sports parent asks: "My daughter is 13 years old and is currently playing basketball. She is very athletic and has natural abilities but just doesn't know it or use it. Her confidence level is not there. She gets in a game and just panics. She starts making mistakes and gets pulled out, I feel like that is hurting her confidence as well. … [Read more...]
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