Pressure in youth sports articles and tips for sports parents, young athletes, and youth coaches to improve mental performance and consistency.
What Can Athletes Do When Coaches Pick Favorites? Summary: Many sports parents believe coaches show favoritism when their kids don’t get enough playing time. Jen Fry, a sports geographer and speaker, says this belief often comes from parents overestimating their child’s skill and tying it to time, money, and private … 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
How Should Young Athletes Handle Coaches Who Yell? Summary: Coaches who yell often believe it’s effective feedback, but it usually backfires — athletes lose confidence, fear making mistakes, and can lose interest in their sport altogether. Understanding why this happens is the first step to helping young athletes handle it … 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? Summary: Disappointment is inevitable in sports, whether from a loss, reduced playing time, or falling short of a goal. Left to fester, it saps confidence and motivation — but young athletes can learn to process disappointment in healthier ways rather than … Read Sport Psychology Tip