Keeping Sports Kids Focused During Holidays
Parents, the holidays can be a distraction for sports kids—and that can hurt their focus and performance.
Distractions can include thoughts or worries about holiday parties, dances, or other events. All this can create stress and tension in young athletes.
As sports parents, you can help your sports kids focus better during holidays—or other times of year.
First of all, help them be aware of their distractions.
What tends to pull them out of their game most often?
- Do parents and stepparents on the sidelines distract them?
- How about friends who come to watch?
- Do they worry about their relationships?
- Do they care too much about what others think of them?
- Do mistakes sidetrack them?
Once you’ve helped them be aware of their top distractions, help them focus on smaller objective or goals when they perform.
You want to pick out objectives that help them stay grounded in the moment.
For example, they may commit to playing good defense, or blocking four shots. Mental game objectives might include committing to staying calm after making mistakes.
Another strategy for your athletes should include pregame or pre-performance routines. These routines are often called pregame or warm-up routines. For example, a soccer player uses a pregame routine for suiting up and getting mentally and physically ready for a game.
Preshot routines are helpful, too, for helping athletes focus. These are routines kids might do before, say, serving in tennis, making a free-throw, or prior to a race.
As parents, you can also help your athletes by ensuring you’re not a big distraction—whether you’re a divorced parent who is arguing with your ex for more time with your child, or an overly-enthusiastic parent who yells from the sidelines, keep your own behavior in check.
Related Articles on Youth Sports:
- How to Help Sports Kids Stay Focused During Games
- Ensuring Kids are Focused, Immersed and Engaged in Youth Sports [Podcast]
- Cut Distractions and Make It Fun: Miami Dolphins’ Advice [Podcast]
*Subscribe to The Sports Psychology Podcast on iTunes
*Subscribe to The Sports Psychology Podcast on Spotify
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