{"id":2534,"date":"2015-04-21T15:25:48","date_gmt":"2015-04-21T15:25:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/?p=2534"},"modified":"2025-07-11T07:40:09","modified_gmt":"2025-07-11T11:40:09","slug":"mental-keys-to-helping-your-athletes-move-past-mistakes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/mental-keys-to-helping-your-athletes-move-past-mistakes\/","title":{"rendered":"Mental Keys To Helping Your Athletes Move Past Mistakes&#8230;"},"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\/2016\/11\/does-more-spending-on-kids-sports-cause-more-pressure.jpg\" alt=\"Youth Sports\" class=\"wp-image-3471\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/does-more-spending-on-kids-sports-cause-more-pressure.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/does-more-spending-on-kids-sports-cause-more-pressure-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=\"Helping_Kids_Move_on_After_Mistakes\"><\/span>Helping Kids Move on After Mistakes<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\/mental-keys-to-helping-your-athletes-move-past-mistakes\/#Helping_Kids_Move_on_After_Mistakes\" >Helping Kids Move on After Mistakes<\/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\/mental-keys-to-helping-your-athletes-move-past-mistakes\/#Dwelling_on_mistakes_keeps_kids_minds_stuck_in_the_wrong_place\" >Dwelling on mistakes keeps kids\u2019 minds stuck in the wrong place.<\/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\/mental-keys-to-helping-your-athletes-move-past-mistakes\/#Weve_got_lots_of_other_strategies_for_helping_young_athletes_move_past_mistakes\" >We\u2019ve got lots of other strategies for helping young athletes move past mistakes.<\/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\/mental-keys-to-helping-your-athletes-move-past-mistakes\/#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-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/mental-keys-to-helping-your-athletes-move-past-mistakes\/#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>Too often, kids get hung up on the mistakes they make in sports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That means as soon as they goof up, they have trouble getting the mistake out of their minds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They dwell on the mistake\u2014instead of moving past it. They scold themselves for goofing up. They then <strong>focus<\/strong> on avoiding making more mistakes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is one of the biggest <strong>mental game<\/strong> no-nos kids can make&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Dwelling_on_mistakes_keeps_kids_minds_stuck_in_the_wrong_place\"><\/span>Dwelling on mistakes keeps kids\u2019 minds stuck in the wrong place.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>When this happens, they tend to freeze up. They lose their ability to take risks. They play to avoid making mistakes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When kids freeze up and stop taking risks, their performance and <strong>confidence<\/strong> suffer. To learn, grow and boost their <strong>confidence,<\/strong> kids need to play intuitively and freely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>How do you help young athletes who freeze up and scold themselves after making mistakes?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>First of all, be sure to tell them\u2014over and over\u2014that everyone makes mistakes. It\u2019s human to make mistakes\u2014and it helps us learn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Second, establish a ritual that allows them to move past mistakes. The <strong>Positive<\/strong> Coaching Alliance suggests that parents and coaches give kids a flushing motion when they make mistakes. It means, <em>\u201cFlush it out of your system and move on!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Third, watch your own tongue. Don\u2019t remind your sports kids about their goof-ups. Don\u2019t tell your basketball players before a game,<em> \u201cMake sure you don\u2019t make any turnovers today.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Avoid turning young athletes in <strong>perfectionists.<\/strong> It only raises their expectations and creates frustration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Weve_got_lots_of_other_strategies_for_helping_young_athletes_move_past_mistakes\"><\/span>We\u2019ve got lots of other strategies for helping young athletes move past mistakes.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/do-your-young-athletes-embrace-failure-and-risk-taking-1-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Help Sports Kids Kick Perfectionism\" class=\"wp-image-1109\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/do-your-young-athletes-embrace-failure-and-risk-taking-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/do-your-young-athletes-embrace-failure-and-risk-taking-1.jpg 237w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>They\u2019re all included in our popular program, \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/helping-young-athletes-kick-perfectionism\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Helping Young Athletes Kick Perfectionism and Fear of Failure<\/a>,\u201d which you can check out here:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong><a title=\"Helping Young Athletes Kick Perfectionism\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/helping-young-athletes-kick-perfectionism\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\u201cHelping Young Athletes Kick Perfectionism and Fear of Failure\u201d<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the program\u2014which includes a PDF manual for parents and an audio program, plus a PDF workbook and audio files for young athletes, we explain how to help kids let go of mistakes, accept feedback, stop criticizing themselves, perform more freely\u2014and 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\/how-kids-can-learn-to-make-the-most-of-mistake-while-competing\/\"><strong>How Kids Can Learn to Make the Most of Mistakes While Competing<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/addressing-anxiety-mistakes-and-low-confidence-in-youth-sports\/\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/when-athletes-only-dwell-on-post-game-mistakes\/\"><strong>When Athletes Only Dwell on Post Game Mistakes<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/addressing-anxiety-mistakes-and-low-confidence-in-youth-sports\/\"><strong>Addressing Anxiety, Mistakes and Low Confidence in Youth Sports<\/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>Helping Kids Move on After Mistakes Too often, kids get hung up on the mistakes they make in sports. That means as soon as they goof up, they have trouble getting the mistake out of their minds. They dwell on the mistake\u2014instead of moving past it. They scold themselves for &#8230; <a title=\"Mental Keys To Helping Your Athletes Move Past Mistakes&#8230;\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/mental-keys-to-helping-your-athletes-move-past-mistakes\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Mental Keys To Helping Your Athletes Move Past Mistakes&#8230;\">Read Sport Psychology Tip<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3469,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28,6],"tags":[361,584,281,581],"class_list":["post-2534","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-moving-past-mistakes-for-young-athletes","tag-perfectionism-in-young-athletes","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\/2534","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=2534"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2534\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3469"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2534"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2534"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2534"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}