New Coaches in Youth Sports A dad recently wrote us with a heart-breaking story about how his 13-year-old soccer player was once “brilliant,” but had his confidence busted by a new coach…. The parents are willing to move to another town just to find a team that would help boost … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Fostering Determination in Sports Kids Inner determination and will are critical in youth sports, says Kirk Mango–a coach, National Champion and 3-Time All-American. They help young athletes push themselves beyond their normal limitations and do things they never thought possible. It all boils down to this: Kids-and adults-who are determined … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Young Athletes And Self-Doubt Doubts can creep into your sports kids’ beings without them even knowing what’s happening to them. A player might step onto a basketball court, see a big player swoosh the ball, then start wondering, “Can I really make my shots?” Once kids open the door to … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Growing Confidence in Youth Sports Can kids really grow their confidence in sports today, given that they have to deal with society’s pressure to excel, untrained and sometimes difficult coaches, bullies, and parents who are sometimes over-invested in winning? That was the gist of a question we got yesterday from … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Bully Coaches in Youth Sports What’s the biggest complaint we get from sports parents? Bully coaches. These are coaches who scream at, intimidate, harass or scare young athletes—usually in the name of motivating them to perform better. Read on to learn about how to protect your kids from being hurt … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Kids Who Lose Confidence What can sports parents do when kids’ confidence dips when performing in front of others? Truth is, you don’t have control over what is happening inside your kids’ minds—whether they feel pressure or not. However, you can teach them tools for managing—or eliminating—the pressure they feel. … Read Sport Psychology Tip