{"id":64,"date":"2008-10-15T13:17:31","date_gmt":"2008-10-15T13:17:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/?p=64"},"modified":"2025-08-08T05:24:27","modified_gmt":"2025-08-08T09:24:27","slug":"is-setting-goals-too-much-pressure-for-young-athletes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/is-setting-goals-too-much-pressure-for-young-athletes\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Setting Goals Too Much Pressure for Young Athletes?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/playing-through-adversity.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/playing-through-adversity.jpg\" alt=\"Playing through adversity\" class=\"wp-image-9166\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/playing-through-adversity.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/playing-through-adversity-300x150.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Goal_Setting_in_Youth_Sports\"><\/span>Goal Setting in Youth Sports<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_83 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\/is-setting-goals-too-much-pressure-for-young-athletes\/#Goal_Setting_in_Youth_Sports\" >Goal Setting 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\/is-setting-goals-too-much-pressure-for-young-athletes\/#Trying_to_motivate_without_pressuring\" >Trying to motivate without pressuring.<\/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\/is-setting-goals-too-much-pressure-for-young-athletes\/#In_order_to_reach_for_their_dreams_kids_do_indeed_need_to_set_goals\" >In order to reach for their dreams, kids do indeed need to set goals.<\/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\/is-setting-goals-too-much-pressure-for-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\/is-setting-goals-too-much-pressure-for-young-athletes\/#The_Composed_Sports_Kid\" >The Composed Sports Kid<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Do you feel <strong>frustrated<\/strong> when your young athletes seem to <strong>lack motivation and direction<\/strong>? Would helping sports kids set goals be helpful?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If so, you&#8217;re not alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We often hear from sports parents and coaches who want to better understand how to help <strong>motivate<\/strong> their young athletes to work harder. They&#8217;re struggling with that very difficult balancing act:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Trying_to_motivate_without_pressuring\"><\/span>Trying to motivate without pressuring.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here&#8217;s what one sports parent wonders about how he can help his daughter achieve her goals:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cI have a daughter who wants to play for UCLA and the US Olympic softball teams. She has great drive and desire, but I don&#8217;t think she realizes how hard she needs to work to achieve her goals. How can I help her achieve her goals?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another parent wants to help motivate her child without nagging her:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>&#8220;How do you <strong>motivate<\/strong> a very talented player to <strong>consistently<\/strong> reach her highest potential? And how can I help my athlete be <strong>self-motivated<\/strong> to improve instead of being reminded\/nagged all the time?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When parents come to us with these questions, they often confuse <strong>pressuring<\/strong> their kids with helping them <strong>set goals<\/strong>. Are you one of these parents or coaches? It&#8217;s likely you are&#8211;no matter how<br>well-meaning your intentions are. It&#8217;s also likely that you feel frustrated and confused.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At what&nbsp;point is setting goals simply another way to pressure young athletes?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The answer is not obvious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We&#8217;re here to tell you that helping kids <strong>set goals is NOT pressuring them<\/strong>\u2014but it&#8217;s critical for you to follow our tried-and-true guidelines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We just completed a new Kids&#8217; Sports Psychology e-book, &#8220;<strong>Drive For Success: How Young Athletes Can Achieve Their Goals<\/strong>&#8221; written specifically for kids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"In_order_to_reach_for_their_dreams_kids_do_indeed_need_to_set_goals\"><\/span>In order to reach for their dreams, kids do indeed need to set goals.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The process can improve their <strong>motivation, focus<\/strong> and <strong>dedication<\/strong> to their sport. Goals help athletes identify their weaknesses and structure practices so they&#8217;re as helpful as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your young athletes should set their own <strong>goals.<\/strong> You certainly can help them set their <strong>goals,<\/strong> but they should be their own <strong>goals,<\/strong> not yours. When kids set their own <strong>goals,<\/strong> they are more likely to take ownership in them and stick to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Setting goals, however, is tricky. Kids need both short and long-term goals. They have to be very careful about how they try to achieve them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And you have to be careful as sports parents and coaches about how you try to help them achieve their goals. Yes, <strong>goals can become pressure<\/strong>\u2014too much pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our newest e-book, \u201c<strong>Drive For Success: How Young Athletes Can Achieve Their Goals<\/strong>\u201d tells sports kids the secrets to setting goals in ways that improve their success and help them feel more&nbsp;<strong>confident<\/strong> in sports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you join Kids Sports Psychology, you&#8217;ll have access to other mental training e-books to improve kids&#8217; <strong>confidence<\/strong> and <strong>success<\/strong> in sports including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Focus to the Max! How to Focus in Ways that Get You \u201cIn the&nbsp;Zone\u201d &amp; Improve Your Performance<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How Young Athletes Can Think and Perform Like Pros by Using&nbsp;\u201cGet Ready\u201d Routines<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mental Imagery: Using Your Imagination In Your&nbsp;\u201cGet Ready\u201d Routines<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>10 Ways of Thinking That Hurt Kids Confidence<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Six Steps for Helping You Kick Fear of Failure and&nbsp;Perfectionism: A Workbook for Sport Kids<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Teaching Athletes to Get in the Flow of Sports<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>12 Pregame Tips to Trust What You&#8217;ve Learned in<br>Practice<\/li>\n<\/ul>\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\/the-importance-of-goal-setting-in-youth-sports\/\"><strong>The Importance of Goal Setting in Youth Sports<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/setting-goals-for-young-athletes\/\"><strong>Setting Goals for Young Athletes<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/building-kids-success-through-goal-setting\/\"><strong>Building Kids\u2019 Success Through Goal-Setting [Podcast]<\/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=\"The_Composed_Sports_Kid\"><\/span>The Composed Sports Kid<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"250\" height=\"285\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/THE-COMPOSED-KID-1.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9203\" style=\"width:170px\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;The Composed Sports Kid&#8221; audio&nbsp;and workbook digital download program for young athletes and their parents or coach helps kids cope with frustration and anger in sports. Help your sports kids learn how to manage expectations and let go of mistakes so they can keep their head in the game.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em><strong>The Composed Sports Kid system<\/strong><\/em>&nbsp;is really two programs in one\u2013one program to train parents and coaches how to help their kids practice composure, and one program that teaches young athletes\u2013<em>ages 6 to 13<\/em>\u2013how to improve composure, let go of mistakes quickly, have more self-acceptance,&nbsp;<strong>and thus enjoy sports more<\/strong>!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-26bcd9b3\">\n\n<a class=\"gb-button gb-button-903b6244 gb-button-text\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/the-confident-sports-kid-cd-program\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">GET DETAILS<\/a>\n\n\n\n<a class=\"gb-button gb-button-3275f4fd gb-button-text\" href=\"https:\/\/shop.peaksports.com\/collections\/confident-sports-kid-series-digital-version\/products\/the-confident-sports-kid-bundle-digital\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">BUY NOW<\/a>\n\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Goal Setting in Youth Sports Do you feel frustrated when your young athletes seem to lack motivation and direction? Would helping sports kids set goals be helpful? If so, you&#8217;re not alone. We often hear from sports parents and coaches who want to better understand how to help motivate their &#8230; <a title=\"Is Setting Goals Too Much Pressure for Young Athletes?\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/is-setting-goals-too-much-pressure-for-young-athletes\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Is Setting Goals Too Much Pressure for Young Athletes?\">Read Sport Psychology Tip<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9167,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,35,19,16,6],"tags":[71,118,70,36,37,38,117],"class_list":["post-64","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-goals-for-kids-in-sports","category-pressure-from-parents","category-pressure-in-sports","category-pushy-sports-parents","category-youth-sports-psychology-blog","tag-goal-setting","tag-mental-game","tag-motivation","tag-pressure-and-kids-in-sports","tag-sports-psychology-for-children","tag-youth-sports-and-psychology","tag-youth-sports-psychology","resize-featured-image"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64","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=64"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9167"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=64"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=64"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=64"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}