Help Sports Kids Overcome Self-Doubt Do your sports kids lose confidence just before a game or competition? Confidence in youth sports is the most important mental game advantage. They worry, for example, about the size and strength of their opponents, and compare themselves to other athletes. They tell themselves they’re … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Stay Confident After A Loss It’s easy to hurt your young athletes’ confidence after a game, saying the wrong things or talking too much about the game, especially if your team lost. Many kids link their self-esteem with their performance. We don’t want that to happen. Too often, parents say … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Social Approval in Youth Sports Sports kids have lots of worries in youth sports—worries that hurt their confidence and performance. A big one, especially for middle and high school kids, are worries over what others think of their performance. Young athletes are concerned what their friends, parents and coaches may … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Playing Time in Youth Sports When sports kids don’t get enough playing time, it can really hurt their confidence, motivation, and self-esteem. They feel as if the coaches don’t value them. They worry that they’re doing everything wrong. As sports parents, you can help your young athletes when they feel … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Sports Kids Who Doubt Their Ability Sports parents, do you ever hear phrases like this uttered by your sports kids? These phrases show that your young athletes doubt their abilities. Kids with doubts—and everyone has them, of course—need to understand that doubt is the Number One confidence killer. Kids with … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Helping Sports Kids Refocus With spring almost here and sports kids spending more time outside, young athletes may be distracted by a number of things. When they’re outside, bad weather, mud, barking dogs, birds and other distractions may pull their focus away when playing sports. When kids are distracted, they … Read Sport Psychology Tip