Sports psychology for kids articles and tips for sports parents, young athletes, and youth coaches to improve mental performance and consistency.
Pregame Routines in Youth Sports It’s easy to assume that an all-star guard like Pavin Parrish of the Rochester Rockets doesn’t face mental game challenges. The truth is, he battles with challenges like jeering, doubt, and worry every day-even though he has made his mark by scoring an average of … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Kids Who Compare Their Skills to Others This holiday season, it’s a great idea to teach sports kids to focus on what they have to be thankful for–their positive experiences, physical assets, and mental game strengths, to name just a few. While they’re doing this, they need to understand that … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Mental Game Skills to Overcome Doubt As the new season begins, it’s a great idea to look at ways to boost your kids’ confidence in sports. Going into a season equipped with the mental game strategies to stay mentally tough will help your kids throughout the season and the year. … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Confidence Busters in Youth Sports A sports mom writes us that her daughter’s basketball coach has different rules for different kids. If some kids make mistakes during a game, they still get to be starters in the next game. However, if her daughter makes the same mistakes, she doesn’t get … Read Sport Psychology Tip
3 Reasons Why Young Athletes Resist Mental Training One sports parent recently asked: “How do I get my son to buy into the need for mental training? He is an extremely skilled player who lacks confidence but stubbornly is not open to mental training.” Whether young athletes are skilled or unskilled, … Read Sport Psychology Tip
The Pitfalls of High Expectations Just how many ways can young athletes sabotage their sports performance? In lots of ways, says Dr. Harold Shinitzky, a sports psychologist and author of “Your Mind: An Owner’s Manual for a Better Life.” “A lot of athletes, based on how they think of themselves, … Read Sport Psychology Tip