motivation

Communicate Well with Sports Kids, And Reap the Benefits

How Kids Can Learn to Make the Most of Mistake While Competing

The Importance of Communicating With Sports Kids How you communicate with your sports kids is critical to building their confidence. We recently chatted with Michel Langlois, co-owner of Prospect Communications, which helps parents, coaches and administrators develop more effective communication approaches. He’s also a former coach and has four grown … Read Sport Psychology Tip

Help Sports Kids Set Goals Without Expectations

Youth Sports Psychology

Setting Effective Goals in Youth Sports How do you help sports kids set goals that don’t create high expectations? Wait a minute, you may ask. The whole process of setting goals creates expectations! Read on to understand the critical difference between setting goals and creating high expectations in youth sports. … Read Sport Psychology Tip

Why Setting Goals is So Important for Sports Kids

Youth Sports Psychology

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

Encouraging Sports Kids without Pressuring Them

Youth Sports Psychology

Encouraging Kids to Play Sports Just how can sports parents encourage kids to take part in sports and support them—without pressuring them? That’s a good question, and the answers are not so obvious. Read on to get tips from Olympic fencer Tim Morehouse, who says his parents knew just how … Read Sport Psychology Tip

When Coaches Yell, Insult and Intimidate Sports Kids

Youth Sports Psychology

Dealing Coaches Who Bully in Youth Sports Have your sports kids ever had a coach who yelled at, insulted or intimidated them? If so, read on… We’ve got some tips—and warnings—for you about what we call “bully coaches.” First of all, our warning. Coaches who teach by being negative or intimidating … Read Sport Psychology Tip

Parents’ Role in Motivating Sports Kids

Youth Sports Psychology

Motivate Young Athletes Without Pressuring Them Sam, a Division III basketball player, says it’s hard for him to motivate himself unless his coaches are watching him and pushing him along. As a young athlete, Sam’s not alone. We hear from many parents who say that their kids of all ages … Read Sport Psychology Tip