How to Reduce Pressure in Youth Sports Have you ever heard your sports kids say, “Sports is my whole life,” or “I live for basketball,” or “Eat. Sleep, Play soccer.” Many athletes wrap their self-worth around sports. They surround themselves with like-minded teammates who are their main source of social … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Interview With Kelly Gray For kids who feel pressured by parents or others, youth sports can feel like a job they don’t enjoy. That’s the word from Kelly Gray, a former professional soccer player who has worked with youth sports organizations for many years. He’s founder of Kelly Gray Sports … Read Sport Psychology Tip
“Life as a Team Sport” Campaign It’s still possible for kids to stay involved in sports during COVID-19 isolation, says Spencer Gordon, partnership manager for the Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) Portland. PCA, which aims to create better athletes and people, has launched a “Life as a Team Sport” campaign, which … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Learn to Play “Under The Circumstances” Do your kids feel devastated after a loss? Some kids don’t feel satisfied in sports unless they win. They need to understand that numerous factors are outside their control when it comes to winning. These include the weather, teammates’ decisions and calls from the … Read Sport Psychology Tip
How Young Athletes Can Learn From Failure Losses and failure can sink sports kids’ confidence–but they don’t have to. For many football players, failure means throwing an interception in the red zone or fumbling the ball and allowing the opposing team to score. Missing a tackle for a big yardage … Read Sport Psychology Tip
How to Communicate With Young Athletes The words parents and coaches choose when communicating with young athletes can boost kids’ confidence or deflate it, says Ganon Baker, a sports development coach who has worked with teams internationally and also played basketball in Iceland. When talking to kids about a … Read Sport Psychology Tip