{"id":4558,"date":"2017-06-22T17:46:58","date_gmt":"2017-06-22T17:46:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/?p=4558"},"modified":"2025-07-10T08:13:06","modified_gmt":"2025-07-10T12:13:06","slug":"how-to-explain-mental-training-to-young-athletes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/how-to-explain-mental-training-to-young-athletes\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Explain Mental Training to Young Athletes"},"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-4560\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/how-to-explain-mental-training-to-young-athletes.jpg\" alt=\"Mental Training\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/how-to-explain-mental-training-to-young-athletes.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/how-to-explain-mental-training-to-young-athletes-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=\"Mental_Game_Coaching_For_Young_Athletes\"><\/span>Mental Game Coaching For Young Athletes<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 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-explain-mental-training-to-young-athletes\/#Mental_Game_Coaching_For_Young_Athletes\" >Mental Game Coaching For Young Athletes<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/how-to-explain-mental-training-to-young-athletes\/#How_can_I_help_my_child_embrace_mental_skills_training\" >How can I help my child embrace mental skills training?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/how-to-explain-mental-training-to-young-athletes\/#Exclusive_members_of_Kids_Sports_Psychology_have_immediate_access_to_an_eBook_that_helps_kids_embrace_mental_training\" >Exclusive members of Kids\u2019 Sports Psychology have immediate access to an eBook that helps kids embrace mental training:<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/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-explain-mental-training-to-young-athletes\/#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\/how-to-explain-mental-training-to-young-athletes\/#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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A sport parent asks:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>&#8220;My son has been in a slump with all his baseball activities that he cannot seem to shake. He cannot communicate to us what he needs to help him and we don\u2019t want him to fail even more. How do we help him understand?&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To answer this sports parent, yes!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Slumps almost always is the result of a loss of <strong>confidence.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A child can feel this loss of <strong>confidence<\/strong> for a variety of reasons, and it doesn\u2019t take many sub-par performances for his or her <strong>anxiety<\/strong> to multiply and cause real performance issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The only way to combat this loss of <strong>confidence<\/strong> and slumping is to work on the <strong>mental game.<\/strong> However, most athletes will look to change their physical game first, which can lead to staying stuck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It&#8217;s totally normal for your kids be resistant working on their <strong>mental<\/strong> <strong>game<\/strong>&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They may feel like admitting they need to work on the <strong>mental game<\/strong> is admitting they have a weakness. This is a common misconception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They also don&#8217;t understand what <strong>mental game<\/strong> coaching is so they tend to avoid it altogether.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In reality, most elite athletes work on bettering every part of their game &#8211; <strong>ESPECIALLY<\/strong> the <strong>mental game<\/strong>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mia Hamm, two-time Olympic gold medalist and FIFA Women\u2019s World Cup champion, says,<em> &#8220;The most important attribute a soccer player must have is <strong>mental toughness<\/strong>. Before you can win, you must have the will to prepare to win.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Mental training<\/strong> isn\u2019t for the weak, it is for athletes that want to improve their <strong>confidence<\/strong> and <strong>consistency!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The question becomes:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_can_I_help_my_child_embrace_mental_skills_training\"><\/span>How can I help my child embrace mental skills training?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Focus<\/strong> on the many benefits of <strong>mental game training.<\/strong> Your child will improve <strong>consistency, focus,<\/strong> and gain <strong>confidence.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Remind them that <strong>mental game training<\/strong> is just like physical training. Both are needed to help athletes perform their best.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Check in with their beliefs about <strong>mental training.<\/strong> Do they have mistaken views? Use your knowledge about the importance of the <strong>mental game<\/strong> to debunk these ideas.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mention the role models and sports superstars who have used mental training. From Tiger Woods to Jeff Burton and the vast majority of Olympic athletes, all stress the importance of a strong <strong>mental game.<\/strong> Can all these legendary athletes be wrong?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tell your kids they may miss out without <strong>mental training.<\/strong> Why give other athletes such an advantage? The <strong>mental game,<\/strong> like shooting a free-throw or making a putt, is a fundamental part of their game. Why would they want to lose their competitive edge without it?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Discuss all the benefits outside of sports. <strong>Sports psychology<\/strong> can apply to many other areas of life. It can help kids <strong>focus<\/strong> in a class or on a test, deal with the <strong>anxieties<\/strong> that come with growing up, and give them <strong>confidence<\/strong> to take on whatever challenges arise in and out of sports.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Remember, kids are the most likely to embrace <strong>mental training<\/strong> when they understand it, and the best way for a child to do this is to experience it first hand!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Exclusive_members_of_Kids_Sports_Psychology_have_immediate_access_to_an_eBook_that_helps_kids_embrace_mental_training\"><\/span>Exclusive members of Kids\u2019 Sports Psychology have immediate access to an eBook that helps kids embrace mental training:<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">Help Kids Embrace Mental Training<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s an in-depth review of many of the myths and misconceptions of mental training. It includes information about how to help kids achieve a healthier attitude toward working on the mental game!<\/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-to-explain-mental-training-to-teens\/\"><strong>How to Explain Mental Training to Teens<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/mental-training-programs-for-young-athletes\/\"><strong>Mental Training Programs For Young Athletes<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/mental-training-for-young-athletes\/\"><strong>Mental Training for Young Athletes<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" 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 <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0ynyaalKxbnNmsoeL8gF5X?si=8224669de9b3435b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Sports Psychology Podcast<\/a> <\/strong>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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 wp-block-paragraph\"><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 Training<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Mental Game Coaching For Young Athletes A sport parent asks: &#8220;My son has been in a slump with all his baseball activities that he cannot seem to shake. He cannot communicate to us what he needs to help him and we don\u2019t want him to fail even more. How do &#8230; <a title=\"How to Explain Mental Training to Young Athletes\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/how-to-explain-mental-training-to-young-athletes\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about How to Explain Mental Training to Young Athletes\">Read Sport Psychology Tip<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4426,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[609,603],"class_list":["post-4558","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-youth-sports-psychology-blog","tag-mental-coaching-for-young-athletes","tag-mental-training-for-young-athletes"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t<!-- All in One SEO Pro 4.9.7.2 - aioseo.com -->\n\t<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The only way to combat a loss of confidence is to work on the mental game. 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