{"id":2465,"date":"2014-12-04T14:53:19","date_gmt":"2014-12-04T14:53:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/?p=2465"},"modified":"2025-07-21T05:00:11","modified_gmt":"2025-07-21T09:00:11","slug":"do-your-kids-excel-in-practice-then-freeze-up-during-games","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/do-your-kids-excel-in-practice-then-freeze-up-during-games\/","title":{"rendered":"Do Your Kids Excel In Practice Then Freeze Up During Games?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"300\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-3752\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/why-having-fun-helps-sports-kids-perform-well.jpg\" alt=\"Youth Sports Psychology\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/why-having-fun-helps-sports-kids-perform-well.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/why-having-fun-helps-sports-kids-perform-well-300x150.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Taking_Practice_Confidence_to_Games_in_Youth_Sports\"><\/span>Taking Practice Confidence to Games in 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\/do-your-kids-excel-in-practice-then-freeze-up-during-games\/#Taking_Practice_Confidence_to_Games_in_Youth_Sports\" >Taking Practice Confidence to Games in 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\/do-your-kids-excel-in-practice-then-freeze-up-during-games\/#Want_to_learn_more_about_how_to_help_young_athletes_who_are_perfectionists\" >Want to learn more about how to help young athletes who are perfectionists?<\/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\/do-your-kids-excel-in-practice-then-freeze-up-during-games\/#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-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/do-your-kids-excel-in-practice-then-freeze-up-during-games\/#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>Lisa Cohn here to tell you we are seeing more and more <strong>perfectionist athletes<\/strong> today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And that\u2019s good news and bad news when it comes to sports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, my 6-year-old son loves to practice, but freezes up during games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If asked why, most athletes say things like, <em>\u201cI\u2019m worried I may do something wrong. The other kids are better than me.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes the issue is when athletes raise to a higher level of competition\u2014and the game may be overwhelming or they feel intimidated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But for my son, he\u2019s given me a few clues suggesting that he feels he should be the best. That means he has <strong>high expectations<\/strong> for his performance, which is a characteristic of <strong>perfectionist athletes<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When kids are <strong>perfectionists,<\/strong> they tend to do well in practice, but freeze up during games. They go in thinking they\u2019ll be a top scorer or a top athlete on defense, and feel frustrated when they\u2019re not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Perfectionists<\/strong> also fear failure. They don\u2019t want to make mistakes. When they do, they get frustrated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And <strong>frustration<\/strong> leads to playing it safe. Which is not how we want young athletes to play. We want them to just go for it, and <strong>trust<\/strong> their instincts. That helps them get \u201c<em>in the zone<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can help your <strong>perfectionists<\/strong> by identifying their <strong>high expectations,<\/strong> and asking them to set smaller, achievable <strong>mini-goals.<\/strong> That might include playing well on defense, or making two good shots on the goal during a quarter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Help them <strong>focus<\/strong> on the process\u2014not on the score, the stats or the win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Want_to_learn_more_about_how_to_help_young_athletes_who_are_perfectionists\"><\/span>Want to learn more about how to help young athletes who are perfectionists?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019ve got a great program for you aimed at helping young athletes kick <strong>perfectionism<\/strong> and fear of failure. Check it out here:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><a title=\"Helping Young Athletes Kick Perfectionism\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/helping-young-athletes-kick-perfectionism\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Helping Young Athletes Kick Perfectionism<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You and your young athletes will learn everything you need to know to get their <strong>perfectionism<\/strong> under control and help them enjoy sports more!<\/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\/athletes-who-do-well-in-practice-but-struggle-during-games\/\"><strong>Athletes Who Do Well in Practice, But Struggle During Games<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/when-kids-play-better-in-practice-than-games\/\"><strong>When Kids Play Better in Practice Than Games<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/help-your-athlete-with-focus-during-competitions-and-practice\/\"><strong>Help Your Athlete With Focus During Competitions and Practice!<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"block-f49818fa-7c7a-4ee3-b5ee-66581aad2c71\">*Subscribe to&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/sports-psychology-podcast-by-peaksports-com\/id152566009\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Sports Psychology Podcast<\/a>&nbsp;on iTunes<br>*Subscribe to <a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0ynyaalKxbnNmsoeL8gF5X?si=8224669de9b3435b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Sports Psychology Podcast<\/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>Taking Practice Confidence to Games in Youth Sports Lisa Cohn here to tell you we are seeing more and more perfectionist athletes today. And that\u2019s good news and bad news when it comes to sports. For example, my 6-year-old son loves to practice, but freezes up during games. If asked &#8230; <a title=\"Do Your Kids Excel In Practice Then Freeze Up During Games?\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/do-your-kids-excel-in-practice-then-freeze-up-during-games\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Do Your Kids Excel In Practice Then Freeze Up During Games?\">Read Sport Psychology Tip<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3757,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28,6],"tags":[361,580,581],"class_list":["post-2465","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-perfectionism-in-sports","category-youth-sports-psychology-blog","tag-mental-game-of-sports","tag-perfectionism-in-young-atheltes","tag-youth-sports-high-expectations","resize-featured-image"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2465","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=2465"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2465\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3757"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2465"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2465"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2465"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}