Train Your Mind to Respond Well to Adversity This is something young athletes can achieve, but it takes practice. It doesn’t necessarily come naturally. Young athletes need to train their brains to respond automatically to challenging situations. To do this, they should consistently tell themselves positive, empowering messages. If they … Read Sport Psychology Tip
How Can Your Daughter Overcome Stereotypes? Stereotypes about girls in sports undermine girls’ confidence, dreams and performance, says Donny DeDonatis III, CEO of the United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA), a former pro athlete and the dad of twins in youth sports. As the head of the USSSA, DeDonatis is … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Kaig Lightner, founder of Portland Community Football, a soccer club for low-income kids, says one of his main challenges is helping the kids–many of them Hispanic–deal with bullying. “These are 10-year-olds who get called racist names on the field. We have to work with the kids and help them figure … Read Sport Psychology Tip
How Parents Can Help Sports Kids Stay Safe It’s hard to read the stories about members of the USA Gymnastics Team being harassed and abused by the team’s doctor. And it’s easy to worry about such dangers. Kids who are bullied, abused or harassed as sports kids can suffer throughout … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Female Bullying in Youth Sports Girls and women in sports like to focus on relationships, while boys and men are less likely to do this, says Joan Steidinger, author of “Sisterhood in Sports: How Female Athletes Collaborate and Compete.” But while focusing on relationships has many pluses—kids who do this … Read Sport Psychology Tip
As the fall sports season starts to wind up, be sure to prepare your sports kids for potential bullying from other athletes and coaches. Sadly, there’s an epidemic of bullying in sports right now. The worst part of it: Children are reluctant to tell their parents they’re being bullied. All … Read Sport Psychology Tip