Sports Parenting

Athletes Who Use Steroids Negatively Influence Youth Athletes [Podcast]

Ultimate Sports Parent Podcast

Why Steroid Use is A Big Distraction for Sports Kids Steroid use is a big distraction for sports kids-even if they’re not using steroids (and we hope they don’t). Why? Kids read about top-level athletes using steroids. It’s in the news all the time. This directs their focus on the … Read Sport Psychology Tip

The Value of Kids Learning to Support Teammates [Podcast]

Ultimate Sports Parent Podcast

Supporting Teammates in Youth Sports When kids strike out at bat on Brad Jubin’s baseball team, the other players standing in the dugout raise four fingers to show their support. This is a great way to lift young kids’ spirits after they make mistakes, says the co-founder of “A Team … Read Sport Psychology Tip

Addressing Fear of Failure and Perfectionism By Adjusting Athletes’ Goals [Podcast]

Ultimate Sports Parent Podcast

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

Early Sports Specialization for Young Athletes: The Pitfalls [Podcast]

Ultimate Sports Parent Podcast

Sport Specialization For Kids Jack Malley, sports dad, coach, and author of “Meet The Lunatics Who Run Your Kids’ Sports Leagues,” says he’s made quite a few mistakes as a sports dad and coach. But allowing his kids to specialize was not one of those mistakes. For example, Malley once … Read Sport Psychology Tip

Cut Distractions and Make It Fun: Miami Dolphins’ Advice [Podcast]

Ultimate Sports Parent Podcast

Staying Focused in Youth Sports Sports kids would benefit much more from sports if they were less distracted and had more fun. That’s the word from Troy Drayton, coordinator of youth programs for the Miami Dolphins. Drayton, who visits elementary and middle schools three days a week to teach about … Read Sport Psychology Tip

Why Teenage Females Drop Out of Sports

Ultimate Sports Parent Podcast

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