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 … Read Sport Psychology Tip
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, … Read Sport Psychology Tip
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 … Read Sport Psychology Tip
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 … Read Sport Psychology Tip
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 … Read Sport Psychology Tip
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 … Read Sport Psychology Tip