{"id":589,"date":"2010-03-31T17:42:13","date_gmt":"2010-03-31T17:42:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/?p=589"},"modified":"2025-08-11T04:56:49","modified_gmt":"2025-08-11T08:56:49","slug":"overcoming-young-athletes-resistance-to-mental-training","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/overcoming-young-athletes-resistance-to-mental-training\/","title":{"rendered":"Overcoming Young Athletes\u2019 Resistance to Mental Training"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3425 alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/sports-parents-need-mental-training-too.jpg\" alt=\"Youth Sports Psychology\" width=\"600\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/sports-parents-need-mental-training-too.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/sports-parents-need-mental-training-too-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=\"3_Reasons_Why_Young_Athletes_Resist_Mental_Training\"><\/span>3 Reasons Why Young Athletes Resist Mental Training<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\/overcoming-young-athletes-resistance-to-mental-training\/#3_Reasons_Why_Young_Athletes_Resist_Mental_Training\" >3 Reasons Why Young Athletes Resist Mental Training<\/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\/overcoming-young-athletes-resistance-to-mental-training\/#Here_are_just_some_of_the_reasons_young_athletes_give_for_resisting_mental_training\" >Here are just some of the reasons young athletes give for resisting mental training.<\/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\/overcoming-young-athletes-resistance-to-mental-training\/#First_all_great_athletes_have_one_thing_in_common\" >First, all great athletes have one thing in common:<\/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\/overcoming-young-athletes-resistance-to-mental-training\/#Second_obstacle\" >Second obstacle:<\/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\/overcoming-young-athletes-resistance-to-mental-training\/#Third_obstacle\" >Third obstacle:<\/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\/overcoming-young-athletes-resistance-to-mental-training\/#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\/overcoming-young-athletes-resistance-to-mental-training\/#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><strong>One sports parent recently asked:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>\u201cHow do I get my son to buy into the need for mental training?&nbsp;<\/em><em>He is an extremely skilled player who lacks confidence but stubbornly is not open to mental training.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether young athletes are <strong>skilled<\/strong> or unskilled, <strong>talented<\/strong> or less talented, they all can benefit from <strong>mental training<\/strong>. Yet, a number of obstacles prevent them from embracing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What does this mean for you as sports parents and coaches? Read on and you\u2019ll learn how to <strong>boost<\/strong> your young athlete\u2019s <strong>confidence<\/strong> and <strong>success.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>First, the obstacles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Here_are_just_some_of_the_reasons_young_athletes_give_for_resisting_mental_training\"><\/span>Here are just some of the reasons young athletes give for resisting mental training.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Kids say:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Coaches and teammates will think they\u2019re weak if they embrace <strong>mental training.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If their coaches don\u2019t use <strong>mental training,<\/strong> why should they?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Performing well is about working hard, not about what goes on in athletes\u2019 heads.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s go over these issues one-by-one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"First_all_great_athletes_have_one_thing_in_common\"><\/span>First, all great athletes have one thing in common:<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>They are interested in improving themselves\u2014including their <strong>mental game<\/strong>. There\u2019s nothing weak or wimpy about taking advantage of <strong>mental training.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Says Mia Hamm:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><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>What\u2019s more, athletes who worry that they\u2019ll be seen as wimpy should embrace <strong>mental training<\/strong> because they think too much about how others view them!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Second_obstacle\"><\/span>Second obstacle:<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Many coaches\u2014especially good ones\u2014use <strong>mental training<\/strong> intuitively. If they don\u2019t, they often don\u2019t know much about <strong>sports psychology<\/strong>. After all, they haven\u2019t received any instruction in it! It\u2019s more than likely that coaches who learn about the benefits of <strong>mental training<\/strong> will use it with their teams. But you as parents may need to educate them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Third_obstacle\"><\/span>Third obstacle:<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes, hard work and dedication are critical to performing well. But athletes need to understand when and why they\u2019re doing well. That\u2019s where <strong>mental training<\/strong> comes in! What\u2019s more, kids might play well in practice, but not during competitions. Again, <strong>sports psychology<\/strong> can help solve this\u2014and many other\u2014problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want to convince your young athletes to take advantage of <strong>mental training,<\/strong> you need to dispel these and other myths. Tell them they\u2019re not broken or dysfunctional if they need <strong>mental training.<\/strong> You also need to explain the many benefits of <strong>mental training\u2014how,<\/strong> for example, it helps kids boost <strong>confidence<\/strong>, improve their <strong>focus<\/strong> and improve their performance.<\/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\/helping-sport-kids-embrace-mental-training\/\"><strong>Helping Young Athletes Embrace Mental Training<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/why-young-athletes-avoid-mental-training\/\"><strong>Why Young Athletes Avoid Mental Training<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"block-f49818fa-7c7a-4ee3-b5ee-66581aad2c71\">*Subscribe to<strong>\u00a0<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><\/strong>\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>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>3 Reasons Why Young Athletes Resist Mental Training One sports parent recently asked: \u201cHow do I get my son to buy into the need for mental training?&nbsp;He is an extremely skilled player who lacks confidence but stubbornly is not open to mental training.\u201d Whether young athletes are skilled or unskilled, &#8230; <a title=\"Overcoming Young Athletes\u2019 Resistance to Mental Training\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/overcoming-young-athletes-resistance-to-mental-training\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Overcoming Young Athletes\u2019 Resistance to Mental Training\">Read Sport Psychology Tip<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3419,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,7,6],"tags":[64,250,118,413,257,412,254,117],"class_list":["post-589","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-kids-in-sports","category-sports-psychology-for-kids","category-youth-sports-psychology-blog","tag-confidence","tag-confidence-in-sports","tag-mental-game","tag-mental-game-acceptance","tag-mental-training","tag-mental-training-kids","tag-sports-psychology-for-kids","tag-youth-sports-psychology"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/589","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=589"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/589\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3419"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=589"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=589"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=589"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}