{"id":6815,"date":"2020-10-15T17:28:10","date_gmt":"2020-10-15T17:28:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/?p=6815"},"modified":"2025-07-09T06:37:47","modified_gmt":"2025-07-09T10:37:47","slug":"help-sports-kids-face-unexpected-challenges","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/help-sports-kids-face-unexpected-challenges\/","title":{"rendered":"Help Sports Kids Face Unexpected Challenges"},"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\/10\/help-sports-kids-face-unexpected-challenges-1.jpg\" alt=\"overcome adversity in youth sports\" class=\"wp-image-6816\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/help-sports-kids-face-unexpected-challenges-1.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/help-sports-kids-face-unexpected-challenges-1-300x150.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=\"How_to_Be_Mentally_Prepared_for_Adversity\"><\/span>How to Be Mentally Prepared for Adversity<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\/help-sports-kids-face-unexpected-challenges\/#How_to_Be_Mentally_Prepared_for_Adversity\" >How to Be Mentally Prepared for Adversity<\/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\/help-sports-kids-face-unexpected-challenges\/#Mentally_Protect_Yourself_Against_The_Unexpected\" >Mentally Protect Yourself Against The Unexpected<\/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\/help-sports-kids-face-unexpected-challenges\/#Your_Mindset_Protects_You\" >Your Mindset Protects You<\/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\/help-sports-kids-face-unexpected-challenges\/#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\/help-sports-kids-face-unexpected-challenges\/#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>Do your sports kids embrace unexpected <strong>challenges<\/strong>, seeing them as a way to discover new ways to keep moving forward? Or do these challenges dissuade them from reaching their athletic goals?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kids need to expect the unexpected. In fact, they should prepare for the <strong>unexpected<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All athletes face <strong>adversity<\/strong>. Gymnasts will fall in major competitions, softball and baseball players will suffer injuries, soccer goalies will give up last-minute goals and hockey players will be caught out of position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Young and adult athletes alike face unexpected challenges. Athletes who are most likely to be prepared are those with resilience, confidence and <strong>mental toughness<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Athletes, coaches and parents have all told us about their experiences with the unexpected and have shared ways that they prepare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A coach who responded to one of our surveys said his team is having a difficult time dealing with adversity and other challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI need my athletes not to be frustrated when they fall short. To make them accept the fact that there will be times when they are going to struggle, but somehow they must maintain <strong>confidence<\/strong> in their abilities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Coaches frequently say, \u201c<strong>Expect the unexpected<\/strong>. Anything can happen in the heat of battle.\u201d To be prepared, young athletes need to have a plan or mental strategy that they can turn to when the unexpected strikes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Mentally_Protect_Yourself_Against_The_Unexpected\"><\/span>Mentally Protect Yourself Against The Unexpected<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>While you may provide guidance on adversity, you also need to teach athletes to be prepared mentally when adversity strikes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, what is your team\u2019s response if the top athlete on your team gets injured? All too frequently, the team becomes dejected. You can see it in team members\u2019 body language. You can see them start to lose confidence.<br>Even though athletes understand that injuries are part of the game, they often aren\u2019t mentally prepared. That can lead to poor performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Young athletes need to learn how to feel confident about their abilities when such challenges pop up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Philadelphia Phillies are confronting this very challenge as they are faced with some tough circumstances fighting for a playoff berth as the 2020 season winds down. With 13 games remaining in the regular season, starting pitcher Jake Arrieta suffered a hamstring injury that will sideline him for the rest of the season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After his injury, Arrieta discussed the importance of mental toughness. He said the team needs to pull together to overcome unexpected events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s just another chapter in our story that we have to continue to write and play out the remainder of the season,\u201d said Arrieta. \u201cNobody said it was going to be easy, right? It seems like this is pretty much rock bottom for us after playing such great baseball for [an 11-game] stretch, going [10 of 11]. It just shows you how quickly this game can flip flop.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Your_Mindset_Protects_You\"><\/span>Your Mindset Protects You<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Kids are going to grapple with injuries and other difficult circumstances. When they are mentally prepared for the unexpected, they can change their mindset about adversity, and focus on continuing to work toward their goals.<strong> Mental toughness<\/strong> and mental preparedness provide the boost needed to meet and overcome the unexpected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To help sports kids prepare for the unexpected, talk to them about how to handle <strong>adversity<\/strong> instead of giving them a game-time pep-talk.<br>Ask what mental toughness means to them and how mentally tough athletes would respond in challenging circumstances. Talk about what mental toughness looks like and how they can practice mental toughness. To prepare, they can focus on building their confidence, improving their focus and learning how to avoid being distracted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s not realistic for young athletes to assume they won\u2019t encounter speed bumps or obstacles. While they shouldn\u2019t expect the worst, they need to be mentally flexible enough to respond to adversity when it pops up and surprises them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If the ref makes calls they don\u2019t like, they need to roll with the calls, rather than letting them upset them. If a rainstorm soaks them to the bone, kids need to focus on what they need to do&#8211;and not on being wet. And when teammates experience injuries, they need to step up to the plate and play with <strong>confidence<\/strong>&#8211;instead of letting the injury get them down.<\/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\/challenges-for-athletes-in-the-age-of-social-media\/\"><strong>Challenges for Athletes in the Age of Social Media<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/the-challenges-with-being-your-kids-coach-and-parent\/\"><strong>The Challenges with Being Your Kid\u2019s Coach and Parent<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/identifying-confidence-challenges-in-young-athletes\/\"><strong>Identifying Confidence Challenges 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>How to Be Mentally Prepared for Adversity Do your sports kids embrace unexpected challenges, seeing them as a way to discover new ways to keep moving forward? Or do these challenges dissuade them from reaching their athletic goals? Kids need to expect the unexpected. In fact, they should prepare for &#8230; <a title=\"Help Sports Kids Face Unexpected Challenges\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/help-sports-kids-face-unexpected-challenges\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Help Sports Kids Face Unexpected Challenges\">Read Sport Psychology Tip<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6817,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,6],"tags":[264,461],"class_list":["post-6815","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports-psychology-for-kids","category-youth-sports-psychology-blog","tag-confidence-in-young-athletes","tag-how-sports-kids-can-overcome-adversity"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6815","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=6815"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6815\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6817"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6815"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6815"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6815"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}