Stressors in Youth Sports
Let’s face it, kids these days are under a lot of stress, and that includes young athletes.
With information overload from their iPhones and iPads, the stresses of everyday life, and pressure to excel in sports, kids need to learn how to take a break and find some peace.
That’s the message from Barb Schmidt, author of “The Practice: Simple Tools for Managing Stress, Finding Inner Peace and Uncovering Happiness.” She just launched “Zen Sports,” which shows how mindfulness and meditation can provide stress relief for young athletes.
Transitions are especially hard for kids (and adults) as they move from one activity to another. With mindfulness, they can take a break between activities.
The idea is for them to take a breath, focus on the present moment—not on test scores, future games or the message they are getting from their iPhones. Instead, they need to look inside and think about all they’re grateful for, she says.
In a similar vein, when kids are stressed while playing, here at Kids’ Sports Psychology, we encourage them to do something similar—focus on the moment, and what they need to do right now, whether it’s making great passes or being a good defensive player.
Interestingly, Schmidt says her work with young athletes has shown that many kids are playing positions or sports they don’t want to play—but that their parents want them to play.
“High school students say they do want to play, but want to be able to choose their positions.”
For example, one quarterback told her he wants to be a safety; he wants more choices and to feel good about himself, Schmidt says.
The first step, for kids, to even understanding what they want, is slowing down, focusing on the moment, and looking inside their hearts, Schmidt says.
We agree that kids need to play the positions they want to play—and they need to play sports for the right reasons, not because their parents push them into it. They need to find ways to understand how they feel— and express these feelings.
Related Articles on Youth Sports:
- When Youth Sports Feels Toxic, Athletes Need These Skills
- Why Mind Reading Hurts Confidence for Athletes
- What Can Athletes Learn from Elite Athletes’ Mindset?
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The Composed Sports Kid
“The Composed Sports Kid” audio and workbook digital download program for young athletes and their parents or coach helps kids cope with frustration and anger in sports. Help your sports kids learn how to manage expectations and let go of mistakes so they can keep their head in the game.
The Composed Sports Kid system is really two programs in one–one program to train parents and coaches how to help their kids practice composure, and one program that teaches young athletes–ages 6 to 13–how to improve composure, let go of mistakes quickly, have more self-acceptance, and thus enjoy sports more!