{"id":1678,"date":"2012-05-03T18:50:46","date_gmt":"2012-05-03T18:50:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/?p=1678"},"modified":"2025-08-07T07:24:47","modified_gmt":"2025-08-07T11:24:47","slug":"3-top-challenges-for-sports-kids-and-one-solution","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/3-top-challenges-for-sports-kids-and-one-solution\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Top Challenges for Sports Kids \u2013 And one Solution"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/12\/helping-young-athletes-overcome-fear-of-failure-4.jpg\" alt=\"Youth Sports Psychology\" class=\"wp-image-3798\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/12\/helping-young-athletes-overcome-fear-of-failure-4.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/12\/helping-young-athletes-overcome-fear-of-failure-4-300x150.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Enjoying_Youth_Sports\"><\/span>Enjoying Youth 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\/3-top-challenges-for-sports-kids-and-one-solution\/#Enjoying_Youth_Sports\" >Enjoying Youth 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\/3-top-challenges-for-sports-kids-and-one-solution\/#Focus\" >Focus<\/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\/3-top-challenges-for-sports-kids-and-one-solution\/#One_solution\" >One solution:<\/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\/3-top-challenges-for-sports-kids-and-one-solution\/#One_thing_to_keep_in_mind\" >One thing to keep in mind:<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/3-top-challenges-for-sports-kids-and-one-solution\/#What_are_they_focusing_on_thats_distracting_them\" >What are they focusing on that\u2019s distracting them?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/3-top-challenges-for-sports-kids-and-one-solution\/#Related_Articles_on_Kids_Mental_Game\" >Related Articles on Kids&#8217; Mental Game:<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/3-top-challenges-for-sports-kids-and-one-solution\/#Improve_Your_Mental_Game_From_Anywhere_In_The_World\" >Improve Your Mental Game From Anywhere In The World<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<p>Sports parents have lots of theories about why their kids aren\u2019t performing well or enjoying youth sports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They say things like, <em>\u201cHe\u2019s really talented, but he stops trying after he makes mistakes. He needs to feel more <strong>secure.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Or: <em>\u201cWhenever the coach gives my daughter any kind of feedback, she freezes up. She needs to have a different coach.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Or: <em>\u201cWhen her friends are watching her games, my daughter plays badly. Her friends shouldn\u2019t come to her games.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The situations above describe common distractions that hurt kids\u2019 performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The truth is, many of these challenges boil down to one thing:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Focus\"><\/span>Focus<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>When kids learn to be aware of what distracts them and <strong>focus<\/strong> better in sports, they excel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The boy who makes mistakes and feels insecure is dwelling on his mistakes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"One_solution\"><\/span>One solution:<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>He should learn to stop dwelling on his mistakes&#8211;the past&#8211;and <strong>focus<\/strong> on the tasks that will help him perform better right now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The girl who freezes up when her coach gives her feedback is also dwelling on the negative&#8211;any criticism her coach gives her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She needs to <strong>focus<\/strong> less on her coach\u2019s negative comments, and more on her <strong>positive<\/strong> attributes (which the coach likely points out, in addition to ways to <strong>improve).<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"One_thing_to_keep_in_mind\"><\/span>One thing to keep in mind:<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Kids make their own decisions about what to focbus on\u2014and they can teach themselves how to change their <strong>focus!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The girl who plays badly when her friends are around gets distracted by the presence of her friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She needs to learn to ignore them and <strong>focus<\/strong> on what\u2019s right in front of her\u2014the ball, her opponent, her next move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, before you assume that you should ban your players\u2019 friends from the sidelines, find a new coach, or boost your kids\u2019 security levels, think about <strong>focus.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_are_they_focusing_on_thats_distracting_them\"><\/span>What are they focusing on that\u2019s distracting them?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>And remember, one of the keys to performing well is learning how to <strong>focus<\/strong> on the here-and-now, to stay in the present moment. It\u2019s not always so easy.<\/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\" id=\"related-articles-on-hockey-mental-game\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Related_Articles_on_Kids_Mental_Game\"><\/span>Related Articles on Kids&#8217; Mental Game:<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\/why-kids-identities-shouldnt-be-all-about-sports\/\"><strong>Why Kids\u2019 Identities Shouldn\u2019t be All About Sports<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/getting-all-the-goodness-out-of-youth-sports\/\"><strong>Getting All the Goodness Out of Youth Sports<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/sports-parents-learn-from-simone-biles-twisties-during-the-olympics\/\"><strong>Sports Parents: Learn from Simone Biles\u2019 \u201cTwisties\u201d During the Olympics?<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"block-f49818fa-7c7a-4ee3-b5ee-66581aad2c71\">*Subscribe to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/sports-psychology-podcast-by-peaksports-com\/id152566009\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>The Sports Psychology Podcast<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0on iTunes<br>*Subscribe to <a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0ynyaalKxbnNmsoeL8gF5X?si=8224669de9b3435b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>The Sports Psychology Podcast<\/strong><\/a> on Spotify<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Improve_Your_Mental_Game_From_Anywhere_In_The_World\"><\/span><strong>Improve Your Mental Game From Anywhere In The World<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/mental-training-for-young-athletes.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6868\" style=\"width:138px;height:auto\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>We\u2019re certain that, as a parent,&nbsp;you want to help your child develop confidence and discipline in sports and life.&nbsp;And as a sports parent, you\u2019d love for your children to reach their potential in sports.&nbsp;But encouraging your child to <strong>strive for greatness without pressuring them<\/strong> can be a challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can get expert mental coaching with us from anywhere. Meet with us via Zoom, Skype, FaceTime or phone call. With today\u2019s video technology, we are able to connect with athletes and coaches all over the globe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Call Us Today to Schedule Your Free 15-Minute Session.<\/strong><br><strong>Find Out How Your Athlete Can Benefit From One-on-One Mental Coaching!<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Enjoying Youth Sports Sports parents have lots of theories about why their kids aren\u2019t performing well or enjoying youth sports. They say things like, \u201cHe\u2019s really talented, but he stops trying after he makes mistakes. He needs to feel more secure.\u201d Or: \u201cWhenever the coach gives my daughter any kind &#8230; <a title=\"3 Top Challenges for Sports Kids \u2013 And one Solution\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/3-top-challenges-for-sports-kids-and-one-solution\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about 3 Top Challenges for Sports Kids \u2013 And one Solution\">Read Sport Psychology Tip<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3797,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[209,26,13,7,6],"tags":[494,454,277,492,493],"class_list":["post-1678","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-concentration","category-confidence-in-young-athletes","category-mental-training","category-sports-psychology-for-kids","category-youth-sports-psychology-blog","tag-focus-for-sports-kids","tag-focus-for-young-athletes","tag-focus-in-sports","tag-kids-sports-mental-training","tag-mental-training-for-kids"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1678","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=1678"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1678\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3797"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1678"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1678"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1678"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}