{"id":12602,"date":"2025-02-20T20:36:00","date_gmt":"2025-02-21T01:36:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/?p=12602"},"modified":"2025-08-11T04:36:34","modified_gmt":"2025-08-11T08:36:34","slug":"how-to-deal-with-plateaus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/how-to-deal-with-plateaus\/","title":{"rendered":"How Young Athletes Can Deal with\u00a0Plateaus in Sports"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/plateaus-in-sport.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/plateaus-in-sport.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12605\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/plateaus-in-sport.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/plateaus-in-sport-300x150.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Have_you_Ever_Experienced_a_Plateaus_in_Sports\"><\/span>Have you Ever Experienced a Plateaus in Sports<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 ez-toc-wrap-center counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/how-to-deal-with-plateaus\/#Have_you_Ever_Experienced_a_Plateaus_in_Sports\" >Have you Ever Experienced a Plateaus in Sports<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/how-to-deal-with-plateaus\/#Some_examples\" >Some examples:<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/how-to-deal-with-plateaus\/#Related_Youth_Psychology_Articles\" >Related Youth Psychology Articles<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/how-to-deal-with-plateaus\/#Helping_Perfectionist_Young_Athletes\" >Helping Perfectionist Young Athletes<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<p>Have you heard the saying, \u201cIf you keep doing the same thing over and over, you will keep getting the same results\u201d?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The quote emphasizes that young athletes should take a different approach or change their behavior if they want different results. At points in their athletic career, kids will experience <strong>plateaus<\/strong>. It\u2019s unavoidable.<br>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Some_examples\"><\/span>Some examples:<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A golfer who consistently finishes in the top ten in tournaments just can\u2019t seem to get over the hump and win a tournament.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A basketball player has improved their shooting percentage inside the arc but hasn\u2019t been able to raise their three-point shooting percentage.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A senior national swimmer has been stuck finishing with the same time in the 100 Freestyle for the past year.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Feeling stuck at a particular level is frustrating, especially when sports kids know they are hard workers.<br>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, <strong>plateaus<\/strong> don\u2019t mean athletes aren\u2019t working hard or are in a slump.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even the hardest-working athletes get stuck. Actually, <strong>plateaus<\/strong> are part of the growth process. It\u2019s like a puzzle to figure out. When kids work to find a solution, they will eventually see significant performance gains.<br>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, many athletes get stuck in <strong>plateaus<\/strong> because they get comfortable&#8230;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They practice the same things or the same way with little deviation. The reality is that what they have done in the past may not get them to where they want to go in the future.<br>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kids need to switch things up, whether that\u2019s improving practice intensity, weight training, learning new mental skills or tweaking their mechanics. To break through a <strong>plateau<\/strong>, they need something extra or different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In other words, young athletes must get comfortable being uncomfortable.&nbsp;<br>Take it from UCLA center Lauren Betts, who helped the No. 1-ranked Bruins to an 18-0 record to start the 2024-25 season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Betts had a solid season in her sophomore year. However, she wasn\u2019t satisfied with her production. So, Betts worked on her decision-making skills and conditioning in the offseason and preseason and took her game to the next level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As a result, Betts is having a career year, averaging 20.3 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks per game. Betts credited UCLA trainer Ashley Samaniego for helping her improve her quickness and mobility on the court.<br>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOn the mobility part, I got to give a shout-out to Ash (Samaniego), our trainer, because he kicked our butts all preseason long,\u201d Betts said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201dThis summer, I\u2019m just working on fast sprints, just getting moving a little bit. I think that has to do a lot with how I\u2019m moving [and playing] this year.\u201d<br>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The saying, \u201cIf you keep doing the same thing over and over, you will keep getting the same results,\u201d is more than just a catchy phrase; it\u2019s a call to action.<br>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In order to achieve athletic growth and next-level performance, sports kids need to break free of repetitive patterns. The key is to get comfortable with being uncomfortable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kids should do something different. This may sound like a simplistic approach, but breaking out of comfort is never easy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Each week, kids need to challenge themselves. For example, they should commit to 15 minutes of daily mental training or push themselves during conditioning sessions. Remember, tomorrow is built today!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Related_Youth_Psychology_Articles\"><\/span>Related Youth Psychology Articles<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/help-athletes-get-through-slumps\/\"><strong>Help Athletes Get Through Slumps<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/helping-young-athletes-control-emotions\/\"><strong>Helping Young Athletes Control Emotions<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/the-mental-game-challenges-of-injuries-in-youth-sports\/\"><strong>The Mental Game Challenges of Injuries in Youth Sports<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"block-2af4b66a-7a25-46fc-b627-e07fc2853075\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Helping_Perfectionist_Young_Athletes\"><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/helping-young-athletes-kick-perfectionism\/\" title=\"\">Helping Perfectionist Young Athletes<\/a><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>They\u2019ll Perform More Freely, Feel more Confident, and<br>Overcome Classic Obstacles that Prevent Them From Meeting Their Potential \u2014in Sports and Life!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Nearly&nbsp;every athlete struggles with some form of perfectionism or fear of failure. In recent weeks I\u2019ve related to you my own son\u2019s struggle with this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kids who look like stars in practice will often choke up or under perform during games or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Other athletes expect too much of themselves\u2014then get frustrated when they don\u2019t meet their high expectations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>\u201cI use your tips to help a sophomore high school student athlete. Last night, after I gave him some of your email tips \u2013 relax, get in the flow of the game, have fun, play by instinct, etc. \u2013 He busted loose for a career high 20 points and 15 rebounds!\u201d*<\/em><br><strong>~Bob Heidkamp<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-horizontal is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-499968f5 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button has-custom-width wp-block-button__width-25\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-background has-medium-font-size has-custom-font-size wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/helping-young-athletes-kick-perfectionism\/\" style=\"border-radius:9px;background-color:#709633\">DETAILS<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Have you Ever Experienced a Plateaus in Sports Have you heard the saying, \u201cIf you keep doing the same thing over and over, you will keep getting the same results\u201d? The quote emphasizes that young athletes should take a different approach or change their behavior if they want different results. &#8230; <a title=\"How Young Athletes Can Deal with\u00a0Plateaus in Sports\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/how-to-deal-with-plateaus\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about How Young Athletes Can Deal with\u00a0Plateaus in Sports\">Read Sport Psychology Tip<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12606,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[301,251,117],"class_list":["post-12602","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-kids-in-sports","tag-pressure-in-youth-sports","tag-youth-sports","tag-youth-sports-psychology"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12602","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12602"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12602\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12606"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12602"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12602"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12602"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}