Avoiding Comparisons to Boost Confidence in Young Athletes As sports parents, we all strive to be positive and happy role models for our children. Unfortunately, the stresses of sports can bring out the negative in us if we don’t try to keep an actively positive mind. The trap is that … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Reasons for Rising Dropout Rates in Sports Recent studies have shown a 14% drop off in soccer participation between the ages of 6-12, says Benjamin Dudley, executive director, Positive Coaching Aliance (PCA), Portland. We also see these kinds of numbers in baseball, football, and basketball all around the country. And … Read Sport Psychology Tip
What’s the Best Program for My Young Athlete? A sports mom asks: “I just wanted to know what the best program is for a 11 (almost 12) year old. I have a 12-year-old with confidence issues.” We often receive emails with these types of questions. Here at the Ultimate Sports … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Do Your Athletes Have Pre-Game Jitters or Anxiety? A sports parent asks: “My sports kid gets especially nervous before some games and seems to kind of psych himself out before the game even starts! Is there anything I can do?” Pregame jitters are a common source of anxiety for players. … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Do You Over Coach Your Athletes From the Sidelines? It’s important to build kids’ confidence, on and off the field. But its’ not always obvious to sports parents about how to do that. In a recent interview, Greg Winkler, award-winning soccer coach and author of “Coaching a Season of Significance,” … Read Sport Psychology Tip
How to Be a Supportive Sports Parent A sports parent asks: “How can I help my children really own their own sports experience?” Sports parents can sometimes forget that the sports experience should belong to their children. When parents are too intrusive, controlling, or over-involved, it undermines kids’ experience. Sports … Read Sport Psychology Tip