Youth Sports Psychology Articles

The Psychology of Sports Injury and Helping Athletes Cope

Ultimate Sports Parent Podcast

Sports Injuries in Young Athlete Many hours each week in Joe Dinoffer’s family focused on their daughter’s tennis; all tennis families have been there. Like many, Joe’s family also decided to let their daughter stay at home and attend an accredited high school distance learning program. But after adjusted a … Read Sport Psychology Tip

Help Sports Kids Develop Routines to Improve Their Performance

How Sports Kids’ Mental Game Affects College Recruitment

Sports Kids And a Zone Focus Sports kids often focus on the wrong things when they’re playing—the score, their last mistake, or worries about today’s homework assignment. This makes it harder for them to experience what we call a “zone focus.” We want sports kids to achieve a “zone focus” … Read Sport Psychology Tip

Why Young Athletes Excel with Backyard Play [Podcast]

Ultimate Sports Parent Podcast

The Benefits of Backyard Play Gary Simmons, author of “Gymbag Wisdom,” and a sports performance specialist who concentrates on teens, has some interesting anecdotes to share about the athletes he works with in high school. The top players he deals with are not the ones who play on traveling teams. … Read Sport Psychology Tip

Dealing With Coaches Who Humiliate Sports Kids

Youth Sports Psychology

How to Handle Bully Coaches Parents, if your kids are being humiliated, harassed, intimidated or threatened by a coach, don’t hang around waiting for things to get better. It’s up to you to take action. We’ve found that too many parents tolerate unacceptable behavior from their sports kids’ coaches because … Read Sport Psychology Tip

How Our Mental Game Tools Helped This Coach Win

Youth Sports Psychology

Mental Game Resources Coach Tony Acosta came to us with a tough problem. His kids, 10- to 11-year-olds who play Australian rules football, didn’t believe they could beat a tough opponent in a championship game. “A few weeks ago a parent told me he had heard a boy say, ‘We … Read Sport Psychology Tip

Parents, Do You Distract Your Young Athletes, Too?

Youth Sports Psychology

Are You A Distraction? Brenda knows she makes mistakes as a sports parent. Not only is she willing to talk about her mental game no-nos. She’s eager to work on them and improve her sports parenting skills. Read on to learn about how she undermines her daughter’s skating and what … Read Sport Psychology Tip