Youth sports articles and tips for sports parents, young athletes, and youth coaches to improve mental performance and overall consistency in sports.
Helping Young Athletes Stay Confident During a Shooting Slump Where do your child’s thoughts go when they are in a shooting slump? Do they get frustrated and try to “fix their shot” mid-game? Do they obsess over stats, numbers, or results instead of staying engaged in the game? Do they … Read Sport Psychology Tip
How can Sports Parents Stay Calm and Composed? What grade would you give yourself for your ability to stay calm and composed when your child competes against elite competition? High-level competition doesn’t just test athletes—it tests parents. Watching your child perform in high-pressure environments challenges your ability to regulate emotions, … Read Sport Psychology Tip
How Does Mental Coaching Help Youth Athletes? SUMMARY: Young athletes train their bodies every day, but mental training is just as important for long-term success. Many young athletes struggle with fragile confidence, performance anxiety, or difficulty focusing during competition. Mental coaching helps them develop skills like self-talk, reset routines, and … Read Sport Psychology Tip
When athletes’ identities are wrapped up in sports, they can experience pressure and high expectations. What’s more, they might become disappointed if they go to college and are no longer the stars they were on their high school teams, said Zedralyn Butler, author of The Mental State of Sports and … 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
Confidence is Key in Youth Sports Confidence helps young athletes accomplish a lot in their sport. However, for some athletes, crushing it at a high level can increase the pressure to stay on top or perform consistently at a high level. High expectations from the outside world and within can … Read Sport Psychology Tip