What Should Sports Kids Focus On? Too often, kids worry about what others think of how they’re performing or playing. And of course, this worry affects kids in other area of their lives, too. If they can get it under control in sports, they may also learn to control it … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Fear of Failure in Sports Kids Courtney Johnson, a former silver Olympic medalist who is now a sports parent, says parents can predict what kind of mental game issues their kids will experience in sports-if they simply pay attention. And they need to pay attention, she says. Mental toughness is … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Staying Tough in The Face of Bully Coaches We’ve warned you over and over that it’s critical to protect your young athletes from bullying in youth sports. The firing this week of Mike Rice, Rutgers basketball coach, for physically kicking players, throwing balls at them, and verbally abusing them is … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Dropout Rates Among Female Athlete Young women drop out of sports—starting at about the age of 13—at twice the rate of young men, says Dr. Joan Steidenger, a licensed psychologist who works with athletes. Why? It’s all about their relationships, says Steidenger, who is writing a book about girls in … Read Sport Psychology Tip
The “I Want it Now” Attitude One of the biggest challenges sports kids face is a “I want it now” attitude, says Kirk Mango, a three-time Hall of Fame Athlete, National Champion and author of “Becoming A True Champion.” If kids are going to make the most of their youth … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Boosting Sports Kids’ Confidence What’s one of the most important things adults can do to boost young athletes’ confidence? They should help build a positive team culture, says Danny Cullinane, a coach and sports parent in England who lectures about sports development. He should know. He’s charged with the job … Read Sport Psychology Tip