Postgame Communication With Sports Kids
Parents, even when the game is over, you need to be careful about how you communicate with your young athletes.
Often, parents are tempted to harp on sports kids’ mistakes after a game.
In the first in a series of podcasts, mental game expert Dr. Patrick Cohn gives parents some tips for ensuring they boost their kids’ conbfidence after a game.
“One of the no-nos for parents is to harp on mistakes. They are well meaning when they say things like ‘Why did you miss that shot,’ or ‘Why did you miss that three footer?’ says Dr. Cohn.
“When you focus on the mistakes, it causes athletes to focus on mistakes.”
And that’s not what you want. When athletes concentrate on their mistakes, their confidence sinks.
In addition, parents should let kids cool down after a game. And they should let themselves cool down, too, says Dr. Cohn. Don’t jump in right after the game and start talking about it.
“Let their emotions settle down. Parents are excited. Athletes are still physiologically intense and have emotions about the game. Observe that cool-down period,” he suggests.
If kids want to talk about the game, listen to them. But after a few minutes, try to transition them out of the role of the athlete into other areas of their lives, he says.
They have to learn how to make that transition.
After a game, be careful especially about how you communicate with perfectionist athletes. “If you start harping on their mistakes, they’ll feel like they’re not good enough,” says Dr. Cohn. “It’s like adding insult to injury.” These kids are already harping on their mistakes.
Want to learn more about how to boost kids’ confidence after a game? You can listen to our podcast, the first in a series of post-game tips, here:
Listen to Our Podcast About Post-Game Tips for Sports Parents here:
(Subscribe to The Ultimate Sports Parent Radio Show at iTunes!)
Related Articles on Youth Sports:
- Communicate Well with Sports Kids, And Reap the Benefits
- Addressing Outbursts in Youth Sports
- How to Resolve Conflicts in Youth Sports
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