How to Help Young Athletes Stay in the Present Mistakes and losses are part of the game in sports. But often, kids fear them. There are two types of athletes in sports: The first focuses on the fear of making mistakes while the second athlete focuses on making plays. When … 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
How to Help Kids Through Stress and High Expectations Ryan Colby, a mental health specialist for athletes, has seen a big jump in the number of kids experiencing anxiety and depression during the pandemic—and that includes sports kids who were already feeling pressure. Kids are also struggling with identity issues … 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
Encouraging Young Athletes to Learn “Superpowers” in Sports Young athletes can learn a number of “superpowers” by participating in sports–traits such as courage, resilience and character. That’s the message from Beth Brown, an educator with a Ph.D. in sports psychology and the author of the children’s book series, “Adventures with … Read Sport Psychology Tip
How Emotions Affect Young Athletes Athletes can pick up on others’ feelings–often negative–in youth sports. In fact, feelings can snowball from one player to another, either lifting the team up emotionally or dragging it down. That’s the message from Jess Woods, Ph.D, a sport and performance consultant, sports parent and … Read Sport Psychology Tip