{"id":7366,"date":"2022-02-16T12:39:00","date_gmt":"2022-02-16T17:39:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/?p=7366"},"modified":"2025-07-08T08:21:00","modified_gmt":"2025-07-08T12:21:00","slug":"helping-young-athletes-build-connection-and-confidence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/helping-young-athletes-build-connection-and-confidence\/","title":{"rendered":"Helping Young Athletes Build Connection and Confidence"},"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\/2022\/02\/helping-young-athletes-build-connection-and-confidence-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/helping-young-athletes-build-connection-and-confidence-1.jpg\" alt=\"Building Confidence and Connections\" class=\"wp-image-7370\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/helping-young-athletes-build-connection-and-confidence-1.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/helping-young-athletes-build-connection-and-confidence-1-300x150.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\" id=\"providing-your-young-athletes-control\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Providing_Your_Young_Athletes_Control\"><\/span>Providing Your Young Athletes Control<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\/helping-young-athletes-build-connection-and-confidence\/#Providing_Your_Young_Athletes_Control\" >Providing Your Young Athletes Control<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/helping-young-athletes-build-connection-and-confidence\/#To_achieve_these_goals_parents_and_coaches_should_begin_by_ensuring_the_sports_experience_is_fun\" >To achieve these goals, parents and coaches should begin by ensuring the sports experience is fun.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/helping-young-athletes-build-connection-and-confidence\/#Whitley_has_some_experience_putting_these_ideas_to_work_as_a_youth_sports_coach\" >Whitley has some experience putting these ideas to work as a youth sports coach.<\/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\/helping-young-athletes-build-connection-and-confidence\/#Listen_to_the_Full_Podcast\" >Listen to the Full Podcast:<\/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-young-athletes-build-connection-and-confidence\/#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-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/helping-young-athletes-build-connection-and-confidence\/#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>With the start of a new season, it provides a much-needed opportunity to enhance youth sports in a way that provides kids with more <strong>fun<\/strong> and <strong>human connection<\/strong>, and ultimately, more confidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s the word from Meredith Whitley, PhD, associate professor in Adelphi\u2019s School of Health Sciences and co-editor of the Journal of Sport forDevelopment. She &nbsp;recently served on the&nbsp;<strong>President&#8217;s Council on Sports, Fitness, &amp; Nutrition Science Board&nbsp;<\/strong>and led the writing of<em>&nbsp;Reenvisioning Postpandemic Youth Sport to Meet Young People\u2019s Mental, Emotional, and Social Needs<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe really need to think about how to be intentional about having in-person conversations again and&nbsp;building those connections that are so necessary to being happy and healthy every day,\u201d she said during an interview with the Ultimate Sports Parent podcast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"To_achieve_these_goals_parents_and_coaches_should_begin_by_ensuring_the_sports_experience_is_fun\"><\/span>To achieve these <strong>goals<\/strong>, parents and coaches should begin by ensuring the sports experience is fun.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe want to make sure the youth sports experiences we are designing are focused on how kids can enjoy the time spent at practices and games, lowering the bar on expectations and the feeling that certain things need to be accomplished,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Right now, many kids are experiencing stress, anxiety and depression, all of which can be exacerbated by the stress of competitive sports, Whitley said. That\u2019s why it\u2019s so important to focus on <strong>fun<\/strong> and <strong>connection<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Parents, coaches and administrators should also focus on inviting kids to help design sport experiences to give young athletes more control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During the pandemic, kids had little control of their lives, and they lost their sense of autonomy, said Whitley. Giving young athletes more input into their sports experience will help give them a sense of control. This might involve asking kids to help design practices and to give coaches feedback on individual practices and games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Coaches can solicit feedback and ideas by handing out forms at the beginning of the season or by asking for feedback after games or practices, for example. Leagues can also create youth advisory boards made up of team captains. And team captains can request input from their team members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Whitley_has_some_experience_putting_these_ideas_to_work_as_a_youth_sports_coach\"><\/span>Whitley has some experience putting these ideas to work as a youth sports coach.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAt the end of most practices, I would check in and say, \u2018What\u2019s one thing that went well today and what\u2019s one &nbsp;thing you want to change for next time?\u2019\u201d said Whitley. &nbsp;\u201cIt took two minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another important goal is to establish a supportive, inclusive<strong> team culture.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWith intention and thought, we can create incredible communities for kids to get to know and support one another and connect with adults who aren\u2019t their parents. They will have more caring relationships with more adults, which research suggests is important,\u201d Whitley said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Coaches can create this sense of community by getting to know team members individually and creating opportunities for the kids to share information about themselves, including their interests outside of sports. The coaches can plan dinners or movies together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cLet them get to know each other as people, not just as athletes,\u201d Whitley suggests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All these efforts can <strong>build confidence<\/strong> in young athletes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cHopefully this affects their <strong>confidence<\/strong> in life, as people. It will have ripple effects in their confidence in sports,\u201d she said. &nbsp;With a supportive team and parents, more control of their sports experience and a focus on connection and fun, it\u2019s likely young athletes will experience a boost in confidence on and off the field or court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"listen-to-the-full-podcast\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Listen_to_the_Full_Podcast\"><\/span>Listen to the Full Podcast:<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Libsyn Player\" style=\"border: none\" src=\"\/\/html5-player.libsyn.com\/embed\/episode\/id\/22150811\/height\/90\/theme\/custom\/thumbnail\/yes\/direction\/forward\/render-playlist\/no\/custom-color\/4188b5\/\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"\" webkitallowfullscreen=\"\" mozallowfullscreen=\"\" oallowfullscreen=\"\" msallowfullscreen=\"\" width=\"100%\" height=\"90\"><\/iframe>\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\/creating-a-culture-of-connection-and-encouragement-in-youth-sports\/\"><strong>Creating a Culture of Connection and Encouragement in Youth Sports<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/addressing-anxiety-mistakes-and-low-confidence-in-youth-sports\/\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/the-confidence-expectation-connection-for-your-athletes\/\"><strong>The Confidence-Expectation Connection for Your Athletes<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/how-youth-sports-coaches-can-build-resilience-in-kids\/\"><strong>How Youth Sports Coaches Can Build Resilience in Kids<\/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>Providing Your Young Athletes Control With the start of a new season, it provides a much-needed opportunity to enhance youth sports in a way that provides kids with more fun and human connection, and ultimately, more confidence. That\u2019s the word from Meredith Whitley, PhD, associate professor in Adelphi\u2019s School of &#8230; <a title=\"Helping Young Athletes Build Connection and Confidence\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/helping-young-athletes-build-connection-and-confidence\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Helping Young Athletes Build Connection and Confidence\">Read Sport Psychology Tip<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7452,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15,6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7366","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports-parent-podcast","category-youth-sports-psychology-blog"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7366","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=7366"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7366\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7452"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7366"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7366"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7366"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}