Mental Toughness vs. Mental Health During the 2020 Olympics, Simone Biles, the most decorated gymnast in the world, pulled out of some Olympic events after experiencing the “twisties.” She said her head was not in the right place… However, she returned to the Olympics, winning a Bronze medal on the … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Helping Young Athletes Learn Life Lessons Chris Meyer coached his son’s team for nine years, from kindergarten through 8th grade…. In an interview, author of “Four Months… and a Lifetime,” explains how he focused on teaching the young athletes life lessons. Many youth sports coaches focus on a specific age … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Growth Mindset for Young Athletes Rather than focusing on instilling fear to motivate athletes, parents need to create a safe training environment for them, says Pomai Miyata, MGCP, and sports performance consultant and founder of ICE Mental Game. Fear-based training was common with old-school coaches and is often depicted in … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Easing Young Athletes Back into Seeing Friends and Teammates Sports kids may feel anxious about changing the routines they developed during the shutdown, says Elizabeth Englander, a Ph.D psychologist, researcher, professor and author of “The Insanely Awesome Post-Pandemic Playbook.” However, playing sports is a good way to transition to normal … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Losing Provides an Opportunity for Life Lessons Parents don’t always know what to say or do when their kids experience losses or make mistakes in sports. Dr. Harley Rotbart, pediatrician, sports parent and author of “No Regrets Living” says parents should teach young athletes to be grateful for what they … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Teach Athletes Strategies to Control Their Thinking Are your sports kids anxious during stressful moments while they’re competing? Are they generally anxious as athletes? Why do so many athletes feel anxious during competitions? Two issues contribute to anxiety in sports. First, young athletes label themselves as anxious. When this happens, … Read Sport Psychology Tip