Youth sports psychology articles and strategies for sports parents of young athletes to improve mental game and performance.
How To Build Confidence Early Some young athletes seem to ooze confidence. They appear unfazed during championship games, in the final minutes of a contest or when trailing late in a game. Why do these athletes possess unwavering confidence? Is there something in their DNA that generates confidence? Confidence is … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Truth About Mental Training for Kids Do your athletes avoid mental coaching because they don’t understand it? To help your athletes, you must first know why athletes avoid mental coaching… Based on our survey with sports parents, a whopping 53% of the parents said their athletes resist mental training–for many … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Solving Problems as an Athlete Competitive sports have their fair share of ups and downs, and most players experience highs and lows during their career. When players are at a low point, they sometimes feel like they are the only ones who experience tough times. For example, if your young … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Young athletes with high expectations often get frustrated when they don’t meet their expectations. Mike Mancini, a certified mental performance coach, explains how to set process goals and gives an example. The aim is for young athletes to focus on staying grounded in the moment, not on the score, stats … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Do You Feed Off the Crowd or Lose Focus? Crowd noise can be a big distraction in sports competitions. Whether it’s cheering, booing, taunting or hurling insults, the crowd’s impact on young athletes can be significant. The people sitting in the stands can only influence the outcome of a competition … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Many athletes refer to their “team” as a “family.” However, a team is more like a workforce… A successful company comprises many roles, with each employee understanding their job description and what is specifically expected for each shift. When employees perform their roles to the best of their ability, the … Read Sport Psychology Tip