Fear of Failure in Sports

Helping Young Athletes to Play Functionally

perfectionism in young athletes

How to Help Perfectionist Young Athletes Many top athletes say that they’re perfectionists. When they say this, sports kids may assume that perfectionism will help them attain their full potential. While perfectionism has advantages, it can actually prevent young athletes from reaching their potential. While perfectionists show up for practice … Read Sport Psychology Tip

When Athletes Play to Not Make Mistakes

When Athletes Play to Not Make Mistakes

Why Do Young Athletes Fear Failure? A sports parent asks: “Our 12-year-old son is having challenges in baseball. He is playing not to make mistakes and seems to have lost his aggression and effectiveness. He is also the smallest, youngest kid on the team. What tips might you have for … Read Sport Psychology Tip

Helping Athletes Who Get Timid During Competition

Young Athletes Trust Their Skills

How Can Young Athletes Trust Their Skills in Games? A sports parent asks: “When my son plays certain sports, especially basketball, there’s clearly and no hesitation to “mix it up” aggressively. He doesn’t always translate skills to game situations… he often fails to let his skills flourish due to the … Read Sport Psychology Tip

Helping Youth Baseball Players Deal with Failure

Ultimate Sports Parent Podcast

Strategies to Help Sports Kids Overcome Failure Fear of failure affects sports children in all types of sports, but can be especially challenging in baseball, says Nova Newcomer, executive director, Friends of Baseball, in Portland, Oregon. “The tough challenge with baseball is it’s a failure-based sport,” says Newcomer, whose organization … Read Sport Psychology Tip