Sports parents articles and tips for sports parents, young athletes, and youth coaches to improve mental performance and overall consistency.
What is Stable Confidence Some kids’ confidence changes depending on the record or ability of their opponents. They only feel confident when they compete against weaker opponents and are less confident against tougher competition. Young athletes’ confidence sinks when they become “wowed” by their opponents’ record, skills or talent level. … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Former Mets Catcher on Making Mistakes For baseball players, making mistakes is the biggest challenge, says Josh Thole, former catcher for the New York Mets and Toronto Blue Jays. Working with the makers of a new app, Players Way, he’s on a mission to help keep youth baseball players in … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Helping Kids Look at Pressure as an Opportunity What causes choking? Why do some young athletes choke while other athletes rise to the occasion? Most young athletes don’t like to hear the word “choking,” let alone admit that they choke. Yet, some athletes believe they “always choke” when the pressure … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Boost Confidence Through Good Communication For parents, connecting with young athletes is an important bonus of youth sports… Harley Rotbart, pediatrician, sports parent and author of the bestselling “No Regrets Parenting” says it’s important for parents to take advantage of the opportunities to boost communication with kids while helping them … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Think of Mistakes as Learning Opportunities There are numerous advantages to kids’ embracing a growth mindset in youth sports. Kids who have a growth mindset tend to see mistakes as opportunities for growth. They rarely say, “I can’t do this.” They generally don’t feel “stuck” but instead feel as if … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Help Athletes Welcome Friendly Competition Young athletes can reap many benefits from embracing friendly competition. Often, kids shy away from competing with their teammates. They feel as if they’re not as talented as their teammates or are afraid of being embarrassed in front of them. For example, a basketball player … Read Sport Psychology Tip