{"id":708,"date":"2010-07-01T13:49:28","date_gmt":"2010-07-01T13:49:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/?p=708"},"modified":"2025-08-07T06:34:50","modified_gmt":"2025-08-07T10:34:50","slug":"the-advantages-of-an-inside-out-mindset-for-young-athletes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/the-advantages-of-an-inside-out-mindset-for-young-athletes\/","title":{"rendered":"The Advantages of An Inside-Out Mindset 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\/04\/athletes-mental-health.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/athletes-mental-health.jpg\" alt=\"How to Care About Athletes\u2019 Mental Health\" class=\"wp-image-9050\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/athletes-mental-health.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/athletes-mental-health-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=\"Using_Internal_Rewards_With_Sports_Kids\"><\/span>Using Internal Rewards With Sports Kids<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\/the-advantages-of-an-inside-out-mindset-for-young-athletes\/#Using_Internal_Rewards_With_Sports_Kids\" >Using Internal Rewards With Sports Kids<\/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\/the-advantages-of-an-inside-out-mindset-for-young-athletes\/#Think_internal_rewards%E2%80%94not_external\" >Think internal rewards\u2014not external.<\/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\/the-advantages-of-an-inside-out-mindset-for-young-athletes\/#Help_them_understand_why_they_like_sports\" >Help them understand why they like sports.<\/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\/the-advantages-of-an-inside-out-mindset-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\/the-advantages-of-an-inside-out-mindset-for-young-athletes\/#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>Too often today, <strong>young athletes are motivated<\/strong> for the wrong reason, says Kirk Mango, a former Division I gymnast who is now a coach and sports parent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He says many <strong>athletes seek external rewards<\/strong>, such as trophies, admiration from coaches and parents, poularity, and scholarships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The problem with what he calls an \u201c<strong>outside-in<\/strong>\u201d <strong>mindset:<\/strong> The rewards are fleeting, and don\u2019t sustain young athletes, he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>\u201cWhen you <strong>value<\/strong> something from the inside, when you\u2019re striving to reach your <strong>potential,<\/strong> master a skill or do well, regardless of whether you win or lose, you\u2019re climbing that ladder and reaching <strong>achievement<\/strong> or a level of <strong>accomplishment,\u201d<\/strong><\/em> he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These inside <strong>motivators<\/strong> are more likely to sustain young athletes and allow them to grow and enjoy sports, he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What does this mean for you as sports parents, you might ask&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want <strong>kids to be motivated for the right reasons<\/strong> and stay in sports for as long as possible, you need to think long-term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Think_internal_rewards%E2%80%94not_external\"><\/span>Think internal rewards\u2014not external.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Don\u2019t offer to pay them for scoring goals. Don\u2019t <strong>focus<\/strong> only on garnering scholarships. Don\u2019t suggest that they only do well if they score goals or win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Instead, you want to help them feel <strong>motivated<\/strong> from within. You can do that by <strong>focusing<\/strong> on small goals&#8211;such as passing well or being good team-mates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Instead of offering to pay them to score goals, make sure you do the same thing after every game&#8211;win or lose. That might mean taking kids out for ice cream&#8211;win or lose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Help_them_understand_why_they_like_sports\"><\/span>Help them understand why they like sports.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, they might like playing with friends, feeling challenged by the game, or learning new skills. <strong>Focus<\/strong> on these <strong>positive<\/strong> feelings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Want to learn more about how to instill <strong>self-motivation<\/strong> and boost your young athletes\u2019 <strong>confidence<\/strong> and <strong>success<\/strong> in sports? At Kids\u2019 Sports Psychology, we\u2019ve got loads of resources for you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>E-books to help parents learn how to instill <strong>confidence,<\/strong> not pressure in young athletes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>E-books written specifically for young athletes to help them overcome common <strong>mental game<\/strong> challenges.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Videos for parents and kids to learn <strong>mental game<\/strong> skills together.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Sports psychology<\/strong> articles, audio interviews, checklists and Q and As.<\/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\/help-young-athletes-turn-criticism-into-motivation\/\"><strong>Help Young Athletes Turn Criticism into Motivation<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/hall-of-fame-lacrosse-players-teamwork-tips\/\"><strong>Hall of Fame Lacrosse Player\u2019s Teamwork Tips<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/helping-sports-kids-build-a-growth-mindset\/\"><strong>Helping Sports Kids Build a Growth Mindset<\/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<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>Using Internal Rewards With Sports Kids Too often today, young athletes are motivated for the wrong reason, says Kirk Mango, a former Division I gymnast who is now a coach and sports parent. He says many athletes seek external rewards, such as trophies, admiration from coaches and parents, poularity, and &#8230; <a title=\"The Advantages of An Inside-Out Mindset For Young Athletes\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/the-advantages-of-an-inside-out-mindset-for-young-athletes\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about The Advantages of An Inside-Out Mindset For Young Athletes\">Read Sport Psychology Tip<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9051,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[24,160,35,6,12],"tags":[421,161,165,163,164,162,117],"class_list":["post-708","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-balance-in-life","category-kids-motivation-in-sports","category-pressure-from-parents","category-youth-sports-psychology-blog","category-youth-sports-tips","tag-athlete-motivation","tag-athletes-motivation","tag-help-kids-stay-in-sports","tag-kids-who-want-to-quit-sports","tag-sports-motivation-reasons","tag-young-athletes-and-motivation","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\/708","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=708"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/708\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9051"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=708"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=708"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=708"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}