{"id":7611,"date":"2022-11-18T22:19:29","date_gmt":"2022-11-19T03:19:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/?p=7611"},"modified":"2025-07-08T07:34:29","modified_gmt":"2025-07-08T11:34:29","slug":"teaching-sports-kids-pregame-plans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/teaching-sports-kids-pregame-plans\/","title":{"rendered":"Teaching Sports Kids Pregame Plans"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/how-to-help-young-athletes-with-mental-health-during-covid-20.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/how-to-help-young-athletes-with-mental-health-during-covid-20.jpg\" alt=\"mental health in young athletes\" class=\"wp-image-6822\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/how-to-help-young-athletes-with-mental-health-during-covid-20.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/how-to-help-young-athletes-with-mental-health-during-covid-20-300x150.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_3-Point_Pre-game_Plan_for_Sports_Kids\"><\/span><strong>The 3-Point Pre-game Plan for Sports Kids<\/strong><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\/teaching-sports-kids-pregame-plans\/#The_3-Point_Pre-game_Plan_for_Sports_Kids\" >The 3-Point Pre-game Plan for 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\/teaching-sports-kids-pregame-plans\/#Pregame_Plans_For_Young_Athletes\" >Pregame Plans For Young Athletes<\/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\/teaching-sports-kids-pregame-plans\/#Listen_to_the_Podcast_with_Mental_Coach_Dr_Cohn\" >Listen to the Podcast with Mental Coach Dr. Cohn:<\/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\/teaching-sports-kids-pregame-plans\/#Mental_Performance_Coaching_for_Youth_Athletes\" >Mental Performance Coaching for Youth Athletes<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<p>Creating <strong>pregame <\/strong>plans helps kids prepare well for games and often helps lift them to success\u2013in sports and other areas of their lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Jazlyn Pipkins, founder and owner of Jazletics LLC and a peak performance coach has developed a 3-part plan for the sports kids she advises. She recently described it as a guest on our Ultimate Sports Parent podcast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMost athletes don\u2019t have a game plan, which creates even more anxiety,\u201d she says. But when kids have a plan, they know what to do when challenges arise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>pregame <\/strong>plan includes meditation, visualization and affirmation, she says. Pipkins suggests that sports kids do two minutes of each exercise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes, she asks young athletes to do this together, on a bus on the way to a game. This can be a team bonding experience. But they can also focus on the <strong>pregame <\/strong>plan when they\u2019re alone, or choose a corner of a court or field to work on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Pregame_Plans_For_Young_Athletes\"><\/span>Pregame Plans For Young Athletes<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The first step, meditation, involves focusing on &nbsp;positive thoughts, favorite songs or favorite quotes, anything that hypes kids up and gets them in the mood to play, she says.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The second step, visualization, is all about visualizing success or meeting goals. That could be making the last point in a game, or making a serve that ties up a game.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The third step\u2013affirmation\u2013involves saying out loud, with a confident tone, phrases like \u201cI can do this. I will win this game. I am a good basketball player.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Pipkins also stresses the importance of sports kids breathing deeply while they\u2019re meditating. This reduces anxiety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s also critical for kids to think of possible challenges and visualize how they would address them. &nbsp;\u201cThey need to visualize themselves in actual game scenarios that they fear and tell themselves to respond with positivity,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kids also need to understand that mastering a <strong>pregame <\/strong>plan requires lots of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Pipkins\u2019 three-step plan has been helpful to her clients in numerous ways, she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis makes athletes feel that they can go into the game prepared for everything and everybody. It also builds maturity. Athletes find that they\u2019re not defined by their mistakes, but how they are prepared for them,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Listen_to_the_Podcast_with_Mental_Coach_Dr_Cohn\"><\/span>Listen to the Podcast with Mental Coach Dr. Cohn:<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\/25028397\/height\/90\/theme\/custom\/thumbnail\/no\/direction\/backward\/render-playlist\/no\/custom-color\/000000\/\" height=\"90\" width=\"100%\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"\" webkitallowfullscreen=\"\" mozallowfullscreen=\"\" oallowfullscreen=\"\" msallowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Mental_Performance_Coaching_for_Youth_Athletes\"><\/span>Mental Performance Coaching for Youth Athletes<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s difficult for sports parents<strong> <\/strong>to watch their kids under-perform in sports and <strong>lose self-esteem due to fear, doubt and tentativeness.<\/strong> It\u2019s hard to stand idle and watch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The solutions are not obvious. However, you, as a parent, can learn how to respond to your athletes\u2019 fears, doubts, and frustrations. You can develop <strong>happy, successful kids who are \u201cmentally tough\u201d<\/strong> in sports \u2013 and life! <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One-on-one sports psychology coaching is the fastest and most effective method to improve your athletes\u2019 mental game, boost their performance, and make lasting changes. And as a bonus, parents learn what to say to help young athletes feel confident and thrive in sports. Please call us at 888-742-7225 with your questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Please contact us today at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sport-psychology-training-athletes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Peak Performance Sports<\/a> to learn more about individual mental coaching programs for serious young athletes on a mission to greatness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-16018d1d wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-fill\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-medium-font-size has-custom-font-size wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sport-psychology-training-athletes\/\" style=\"border-radius:10px\">GET DETAILS<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The 3-Point Pre-game Plan for Sports Kids Creating pregame plans helps kids prepare well for games and often helps lift them to success\u2013in sports and other areas of their lives. Jazlyn Pipkins, founder and owner of Jazletics LLC and a peak performance coach has developed a 3-part plan for the &#8230; <a title=\"Teaching Sports Kids Pregame Plans\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/teaching-sports-kids-pregame-plans\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Teaching Sports Kids Pregame Plans\">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":[14],"tags":[309,117],"class_list":["post-7611","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-youth-sports-podcast","tag-confidence-in-youth-sports","tag-youth-sports-psychology"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7611","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=7611"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7611\/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=7611"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7611"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7611"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}