Mentally strong athletes—those who have done some mental game training—don’t balk after making mistakes. They don’t call themselves negative names. And they’re often great team players because they’re so positive. Truth is, however, that sports kids resist mental training, and miss out on these and other important benefits. Why? Because … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Positive Thinking in Youth Sports “I can’t make three-pointers.” “I can’t keep that big guy from scoring.” “I can’t score goals with my left foot.” “I can’t” statements hurt kids’ confidence. This is called negative thinking, and it’s a mental game no-no. Lots of kids embrace this kind of thinking … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Interviewing A New Coach As the summer winds down and you’re preparing for fall, it’s critical to ensure your kids have a coach whose style and philosophy builds their confidence. Whether your young athletes are already on a team or will be with a coach for the first time, it’s … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Mistakes in Sports Parents Often, we receive emails from sports parents confessing they did the opposite of what we recommend in our programs and online tips. Like their kids, they can be very hard on themselves. They focus on their mistakes and can’t seem to get their minds off them. … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Helping Young Athletes With Composure Many young athletes have a difficult time staying composed after making a mistake during competition. Check out the infographic below to help your athlete stay composed: Please share the info graphic with other parents and coaches who you think would appreciate it. The graphic below … Read Sport Psychology Tip
The Benefits of a Mental Game What’s more important in youth sports? A strong mental game or physical talent? Linda Crum, executive director of Positive Coaching Alliance Colorado, says the mental game is more important—and gets more important as kids start playing at elite levels. At the younger stages, she … Read Sport Psychology Tip