{"id":6486,"date":"2020-02-20T21:45:00","date_gmt":"2020-02-20T21:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/?p=6486"},"modified":"2025-07-09T07:55:06","modified_gmt":"2025-07-09T11:55:06","slug":"helping-kids-perform-in-poor-weather","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/helping-kids-perform-in-poor-weather\/","title":{"rendered":"Helping Kids Perform in Poor Weather"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/helping-kids-perform-in-poor-weather.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6488\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/helping-kids-perform-in-poor-weather.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/helping-kids-perform-in-poor-weather-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=\"Do_Your_Athletes_Do_Well_in_Poor_Weather\"><\/span>Do Your Athletes Do Well in Poor Weather?<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\/helping-kids-perform-in-poor-weather\/#Do_Your_Athletes_Do_Well_in_Poor_Weather\" >Do Your Athletes Do Well in Poor Weather?<\/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\/helping-kids-perform-in-poor-weather\/#And_how_can_they_do_that\" >And how can they do that?<\/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\/helping-kids-perform-in-poor-weather\/#How_others_play_in_poor_weather\" >How others play in poor weather?<\/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\/helping-kids-perform-in-poor-weather\/#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\/helping-kids-perform-in-poor-weather\/#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>When the <strong>weather<\/strong> outside is rainy, snowy, cold or windy, it can be difficult for young athletes to stay focused.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, young tennis players often feel their mental game sink during hot temperatures, and they\u2019re distracted early in the competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some football players dread playing games in cold weather. Golfers may feel as if they can\u2019t putt well on wet greens. And sometimes soccer players are overly cautious when it\u2019s raining.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sports kids need to understand that bad <strong>weather<\/strong> is 100 percent out of their control. They simply can\u2019t control field conditions, excessive temperature, humidity, precipitation or high winds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Often, the player who succeeds when the <strong>weather<\/strong> is tough is the player who is mentally tough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Not only should young athletes stay mentally tough in <strong>extreme weather.<\/strong> They need to use the bad weather to their advantage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"And_how_can_they_do_that\"><\/span>And how can they do that?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The key is retaining a <strong>positive mindset.<\/strong> Other players, including opponents, will often psych themselves out when the weather is wet, cold or windy.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These athletes might tell themselves, \u201cToday is going to stink. The weather is nasty and it is only going to get worse.\u201d They have a poor mental game attitude even before they start competing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If kids understand that most athletes dislike competing in bad weather, but these kids continue to be positive, they gain an advantage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kids should tell themselves, \u201cNo matter how challenging the weather is, I will give 100 percent effort and focus.\u201d They should tell themselves, \u201cI love competing in these conditions.\u201d They should think that bad weather is simply an inconvenience. And if they do this, they\u2019ll have an edge over their competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kids should set the tone early in a <strong>competition<\/strong>. From warm-up onward, young athletes need to tell themselves that nothing will get in the way of going all out on every play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During a New England Patriots vs. Dallas Cowboys game in the middle of the 2019 season, conditions were very challenging. Players had to endure frigid temperatures, a frozen ground, a wet and slick field, gusty winds and a wet ball.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The conditions were the same for both teams, but the Patriots displayed a mentally tough mentality. The game ended with a 13-9 victory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In a post-game interview, New England Patriots free safety Devin McCourty talked about the Patriots\u2019 mindset heading into the game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_others_play_in_poor_weather\"><\/span>How others play in poor weather?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAny time we play in any type of [bad] weather game, we don\u2019t budge, cause when we come in here on a Wednesday, Thursday or Friday [practice], [Head Coach Bill Belichick] stands up here and he says whatever the weather is, get your stuff and put it on because we\u2019re in it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSo we practice in all this. We\u2019ve had rain days, really cold days. So when we get dressed and we get ready to go out there, our mentality doesn\u2019t change. We are out there to play football and try to dominate. And I think everyone has that mentality as a group. So I think it enables us to go out there and execute and try to play at a high level.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That attitude gave the Patriots a clear edge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kids should embrace the challenge of playing in tough conditions. They should practice playing in these conditions. They will gain the mental edge over the competition, especially when competitors are frustrated with rain, wind, hail and sleet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Young athletes need to reframe their thinking about the challenge. What can they love about playing in tough conditions?&nbsp;<\/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\" 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\/control-whats-controllable\/\"><strong>Control What\u2019s Controllable<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/this-pros-mental-game-helped-her-overcome-physical-limitations\/\"><strong>This Pro\u2019s Mental Game Helped Her Overcome Physical Limitations\u00a0<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/adversity-in-young-athletes\/\"><strong>Adversity in Young Athletes<\/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>Do Your Athletes Do Well in Poor Weather? When the weather outside is rainy, snowy, cold or windy, it can be difficult for young athletes to stay focused. For example, young tennis players often feel their mental game sink during hot temperatures, and they\u2019re distracted early in the competition. Some &#8230; <a title=\"Helping Kids Perform in Poor Weather\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/helping-kids-perform-in-poor-weather\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Helping Kids Perform in Poor Weather\">Read Sport Psychology Tip<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6489,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[526,117],"class_list":["post-6486","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-youth-sports-psychology-blog","tag-focus-for-young-athetes","tag-youth-sports-psychology"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6486","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=6486"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6486\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6489"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6486"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6486"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6486"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}