{"id":6683,"date":"2020-07-02T14:32:55","date_gmt":"2020-07-02T14:32:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/?p=6683"},"modified":"2025-07-09T07:22:13","modified_gmt":"2025-07-09T11:22:13","slug":"how-can-sports-kids-get-to-the-next-level","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/how-can-sports-kids-get-to-the-next-level\/","title":{"rendered":"How Can Sports Kids Get to the Next Level?"},"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\/2019\/01\/parents-have-your-kids-wanted-to-quit-sports.jpg\" alt=\"Why Do Young Athletes Want to Quit Sports?\" class=\"wp-image-5097\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/parents-have-your-kids-wanted-to-quit-sports.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/parents-have-your-kids-wanted-to-quit-sports-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=\"Using_Mental_Goals_to_Succeed_at_the_Next_Level\"><\/span>Using Mental Goals to Succeed at the Next Level<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\/how-can-sports-kids-get-to-the-next-level\/#Using_Mental_Goals_to_Succeed_at_the_Next_Level\" >Using Mental Goals to Succeed at the Next Level<\/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\/how-can-sports-kids-get-to-the-next-level\/#Setting_Your_Own_Goals\" >Setting Your Own Goals<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/how-can-sports-kids-get-to-the-next-level\/#These_are_physical_goals_but_in_order_to_achieve_them_athletes_need_mental_goals_and_focus\" >These are physical goals, but in order to achieve them, athletes need&nbsp; mental goals and focus.<\/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-can-sports-kids-get-to-the-next-level\/#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-can-sports-kids-get-to-the-next-level\/#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>If sports kids want to get to the next level in their sports, they need to try something new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Have you ever heard the expression, \u201cIf you always do what you\u2019ve always done, you will always get what you\u2019ve always got.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Talent and persistence take kids only so far. They need to establish and <strong>focus<\/strong> on their <strong>mental goals <\/strong>to perform at the next level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For some athletes, it\u2019s easy to excel at first, often because they\u2019re naturally stronger, faster, taller or larger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But these kids didn\u2019t need to work hard to achieve that success. And when they reach the <strong>next level<\/strong>, it\u2019s difficult for them to adjust or rise to a new level of competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Young athletes need to be mentally prepared or moving forward may feel impossible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>College football player Calvin Avery is trying to understand how to get to the next level. A sophomore defensive tackle at the University of Illinois, he was recruited by many college programs. Avery was a large-bodied high school star athlete who relied on his size to dominant games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But in college, he discovered,&nbsp; big, strong athletes are common. Avery needs to figure out how to separate himself from the pack. That hasn\u2019t been easy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He needs to understand that next-level performance requires just as much <strong>mental effort<\/strong> as it does physical effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Setting_Your_Own_Goals\"><\/span>Setting Your Own Goals<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cComing out of high school it was harder for me. I was like, \u2018Wow, I\u2019m really not in [the starting lineup]. I\u2019m not starting.\u2019 In high school, I was the dominant player. They weren\u2019t really trippin\u2019 about [weight and conditioning]. I was getting to the ball, making plays and they didn\u2019t think it was a factor. Now since I\u2019m at a higher level, people are faster, things might be slower to me so they think it\u2019s a factor towards it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Illinois staff told Avery he needed to lose weight, improve conditioning, <strong>focus<\/strong> on consistency and boost his work ethic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"These_are_physical_goals_but_in_order_to_achieve_them_athletes_need_mental_goals_and_focus\"><\/span>These are physical goals, but in order to achieve them, athletes need&nbsp; <strong>mental goals <\/strong>and<strong> <\/strong>focus<strong>.<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Illinois coach Lovie Smith said that it\u2019s been tough for Avery to do what it takes to excel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>\u201cThere are some things [Avery] needs to do, and until he takes care of those things he cannot take the next step. It\u2019s as simple as that,\u201d said Smith.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Next level performance is not always about more intense training, more time on the practice field or more reps in the weight room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Instead, it\u2019s often about mental training, which helps all areas of performance, including physical training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If kids aren\u2019t concentrating on their mental games, achieving that next-level performance will be difficult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kids should establish some <strong>mental goals.<\/strong> Each week, they should set one mental goal for practice and training sessions. This goal can be pushing harder, persisting when they are tired or staying focused for longer periods of time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To boost their mental game, kids need to focus well, possess stable confidence, trust in the skills they learned during practice, and work to stay composed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Help your sports kids understand that if they want to get to the next level, they need to <strong>focus<\/strong> on their mental game.<\/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\/how-maturity-levels-can-dictate-sports-kids-confidence\/\"><strong>How Maturity Levels can Dictate Sports Kids\u2019 Confidence<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/helping-sports-kids-build-stable-confidence\/\"><strong>Helping Sports Kids Build Stable Confidence\u00a0<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/helping-kids-stop-criticizing-their-game\/\"><strong>Helping Kids Stop Criticizing Their Game<\/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>Using Mental Goals to Succeed at the Next Level If sports kids want to get to the next level in their sports, they need to try something new. Have you ever heard the expression, \u201cIf you always do what you\u2019ve always done, you will always get what you\u2019ve always got.\u201d &#8230; <a title=\"How Can Sports Kids Get to the Next Level?\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/how-can-sports-kids-get-to-the-next-level\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about How Can Sports Kids Get to the Next Level?\">Read Sport Psychology Tip<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5096,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[615,118,303],"class_list":["post-6683","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-youth-sports-psychology-blog","tag-goal-setting-in-youth-sports","tag-mental-game","tag-mental-preparation-for-sports-kids"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6683","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=6683"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6683\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5096"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6683"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6683"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6683"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}