Negative Self-Lables in Youth Sports When sports kids start calling themselves “losers,” “chokers,” “wimps” or other negative names, it’s a bad sign. Young athletes who label themselves with these negative terms are hurting their confidence. They’ve got a little voice in their head that’s constantly putting them down. And, as … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Sports Parents: Dealing With Bullied Kids A fuming sports mom recently asked us what to do to help her daughter, a talented athlete who was passed up for a slot on the Varsity Team and is now being bullied by the girls who made the team. “I have noticed my … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Mental Stamina in Youth Sports Let’s say your young athlete is a golfer, baseball player or basketball player who needs to focus intensely before making a putt, throwing a pitch, hitting a ball or shooting a free-throw. The player generally has a strategy and an intention; the goal is to … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Why Having Fun in Sports is so Important High school athlete Jacob understands why having fun is hands-down the most important thing kids can do when all seems lost. In a recent interview, he told us that when his team is down, or if he makes mistakes, his confidence starts … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Setting Goals in Youth Sports It’s a great idea to set goals for sports kids. Goal-setting helps improve kids’ motivation and commitment, helps them stay focused on what to accomplish, helps them assess their strengths and weaknesses, and track their performance. But who should do it–the parent, the young athlete, … Read Sport Psychology Tip
The Benefits of Participation in Sports For Kids Popular coach Billy Zufall is serious about ensuring sports participation teaches kids critical skills that they can transfer to other areas of their lives. In fact, that’s one of his main goals as director of coaching for the boys’ and girls’ soccer … Read Sport Psychology Tip