Ensuring Sports Kids Are Focused Too often, sports kids simply go through the motions in youth sports, says Bobby Kipper, a former college coach and co-author of the book, “Performance Driven Thinking.” “The kids are there physically, but their minds are not there,” he says. “They’re not giving their all.” … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Embracing Failure to Grow in Youth Sports There’s two ways young athletes can deal with failure and losses, says Eric DeMeulenaere, a Clark University professor, former soccer coach and author of “Reflections From the Field.” They can look at losses from a growth mindset, which means feeling the pain and … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Playing Time in Youth Sports Here’s an interesting study result: If young athletes have to choose between losing and getting to play the whole game, they choose playing time. That’s a tidbit from Steven Frierman, a professor at Hofstra University and a former youth sports coach. Yes, that’s right. Winning … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Can Young Athletes Learn Mental Skills? We think it’s never too early to educate young athletes on mental game principles that will help instill confidence and success in sports as they grow older. Providing a foundation of mental skills can help your young athletes understand the importance of a good … Read Sport Psychology Tip
What Should Sports Moms Avoid at Games? A lot of sports moms unknowingly hurt their young athlete’s confidence prior to games. Here are the top 11 sports mom no-no’s to avoid from Youth Sports Psychology: Please share the info graphic with other parents and coaches who you think would appreciate … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Some young athletes hurt their performance because they are perfectionists. Perfectionism in sports does have some advantages for athlete. Perfectionists tend to be highly motivated, to work hard, and strive to be the best. However, perfectionism has its downside. Perfectionists often don’t perform up to their abilities because they’re afraid … Read Sport Psychology Tip