Pressure in youth sports articles and tips for sports parents, young athletes, and youth coaches to improve mental performance and consistency.
What Athletes Can Do When Coaches Pick Favorites Parents are very emotional about their kids’ youth sports experiences. They invest a significant amount of money in youth sports, which raises their expectations. Because of these factors, they may feel that coaches favor other players when their kids aren’t getting the playing time … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Forty-two percent of children report being bullied by coaches or physical education teachers. Common bullying programs don’t work, said Tom Dahlborg, president and CEO of Dahlborg HealthCaring Leadership Group. Bullying can make kids depressed, anxious and even suicidal. Dahlborg is working to implement better anti-bullying programs, including creating a team … Read Sport Psychology Tip
It’s a myth that participating in youth sports will build character in young athletes, say Brian Smith and Ed Uszynski, authors of “Away Game: A Christian Parent’s Guide to Navigating Youth Sports.” The problem: There are too many variables in youth sports to conclude that participating will build character. Referees … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Nobody Likes it When Coaches Yell at Them. Coaches should treat their athletes with respect. Unfortunately, events don’t always unfold as we would like. Coaches who yell feel as if it is a wake-up call and the best way to deliver feedback or instructions. Most of these coaches have no … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Research shows that girls’ identities can become too wrapped up in sports, according to Marlene Holmes, a mental health advocate, sports social worker and regional director at Netball America. “What the research shows is that for young boys, when they are introduced to a sport before the age of 8, … Read Sport Psychology Tip
How do you Deal with Disappointment as an Athlete Disappointment comes in all shapes and sizes for young athletes. They may experience losses, underperform in a competition, have reduced playing minutes, fall short of a personal best or fail to make a cut for a championship meet. Every athlete in … Read Sport Psychology Tip