Youth sports articles and tips for sports parents, young athletes, and youth coaches to improve mental performance and overall consistency in sports.
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
Without grit and discipline, young athletes won’t be successful, said Cary Knox, retired head coach and author of I Believe, which explores the legacies of Illinois sports legends. “You have to be gritty to be successful in just about anything you do,” he said. “You have to have a willingness to get … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Have you Ever Experienced a Plateaus in Sports Have you heard the saying, “If you keep doing the same thing over and over, you will keep getting the same results”? The quote emphasizes that young athletes should take a different approach or change their behavior if they want different results. … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Young Athletes Should Park Their Egos & Embrace Teamwork Syd Abernathy, a two-time All-American former Navy lacrosse player who was recently inducted into the Chesapeake Chapter of the U.S. Lacrosse Hall of Fame, says young athletes should be “serving leaders” who check their ego at the door, embrace open mindsets … Read Sport Psychology Tip