Patrick Cohn

When Youth Sports Feels Toxic, Athletes Need These Skills 

When Youth Sports Feels Toxic, Athletes Need These Skills

What Skills Help Youth Athletes with Toxic Team Environments? When coaches are negative or condescending toward their players or when parents argue with refs, youth sports can feel toxic to young athletes. That can lead to anxiety, depression and fear of failure. This behavior from coaches can undermine athletes’ self-esteem … Read Sport Psychology Tip

How Toxic Sports Cultures Hurt Kids’ Mental Health

Building Confidence in Athletes

Hillary Cauthen, a sport psychologist and author of “Hello Trauma: Our Invisible Teammate” gives tips for helping sports kids cope with toxic sport cultures, including coaches who yell at and demean kids. Listen to Learn More: Related Articles on Kids’ Mental Game: *Subscribe to The Sports Psychology Podcast on iTunes*Subscribe to The … Read Sport Psychology Tip

Creating a Culture of Connection and Encouragement in Youth Sports

Building Confidence in Athletes

Kaig Lightner founded Portland Community Football Club 10 years ago, providing coach mentors, free uniforms and no-cost or low-cost opportunities for immigrants and others living in low-income communities. The program focuses on creating a culture of connection, encouragement and trust. Player growth is more important than winning games.  Now the … Read Sport Psychology Tip

How Archery Builds Confidence and Focus in Kids

Building Confidence in Athletes

Archery can provide numerous benefits to kids–including building confidence, focus and success. Kids realize these benefits fairly quickly because they often find success as beginners, said Tommy Floyd, president of the National Archery in the Schools Program. The former school principal recently was a guest on our Ultimate Sports Parent … Read Sport Psychology Tip