What to Tell Sports Kids Before a Game
A parent asks, “Can you tell me two simple things to tell my sports kid before a game that will help him and not stress him?”
This parent has the right idea. Just before a game, you want to keep it simple.
You don’t want to fill kids’ heads with technical instructions–the how to, reminders of past mistakes, or what results you expect.
This can lead to kids feeling pressure to perform up to your instructions.
Instead, here are two simple things you can say:
- “Enjoy your sport!” That means have fun and don’t focus on mistakes, what others think, or what others expect.
- “Focus on the moment–not on the outcome.” Outcomes are things like personal statistics or the score or win. Even worrying about what you might say to your athletes is under outcome thinking.
This is what stresses kids. In order to focus on the moment, kids need to think about what’s happening right now–this current play, shot or block.
Kids can focus on the moment by thinking about simple performance cues, which are objects, feelings, thoughts, targets, communication from teammates, or cues from their surroundings.
A soccer player, for example, would focus on having field awareness, creating space to accept a pass, controlling the ball before dribbling or passing or dribbling down the field under control.
We are working hard to bring you a complete program that will help you and your kids understand just what to say and do before a game–and how your kids can mentally prepare for a game in 10 minutes or less!
Stay tuned as we’ll have many more tips and strategies to share with you about pregame mental preparation.
Related Articles on Youth Sports:
- Help Young Athletes Focus on The Process Before a Game
- How This Sport Builds Confidence and Focus in Kids
- Help Kids Focus on Being in the Moment, Not on Mistakes
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