Youth Athletes Need to Understand Mental Coaching
Young athletes often resistant mental performance coaching because they don’t understand what it is…
We know that athletes often have the wrong impression of what mental coaching is. Athletes often think mental coaching is therapy. They assume it’s only because something is wrong with them.
But this is not the case…
Parents need to help young athletes understand that mental performance coaching is another asset kids can use to excel. When your athletes know about its benefits, they are more likely to engage.
But mental coaching may not be appropriate for all athletes….
Mental performance coaching teaches kids to focus on the process, trust in their training, manage expectations, and become more proactive about building their confidence.
One of the main signs that athletes need mental coaching is when they have trouble transferring performance from practice to games.
During practice, many athletes perform well. But once they compete, it’s common for athletes to start worrying about failing and about what coaches, parents and peers think of their performance.
Mental coaching helps athletes and parents with these challenges.
During competition, kids might also struggle with high expectations and fragile confidence.
Mental performance coaching can also help kids who are struggling with pressure, worry, or anxiety, which can make them more likely to drop out of sports.
To help kids embrace mental game training, you might talk with them about role models–professional athletes–who benefit from mental training. Examples include Iga Swiatek and Roger Federer.
Parents and coaches can then tell athletes that mental training is coaching, not therapy. We teach mental skills to athletes that help them perform better in competition.
Parents can also help young athletes understand what mental performance coaching involves…
We meet with kids in person or online once a week. And we begin with a mental game assessment–a series of questions.
We are not counseling athletes–instead we and coaching athletes to think better about their performance and how the react to challenges.
Related Youth Psychology Articles
- Helping Young Athletes to Play Functionally
- When Young Athletes Struggle With Self-Doubt
- Why The Mental Game is as Important as Talent For Young Athletes
Ultimate Sports Parent Workbook and CD Program
Every day, we receive letters from parents like you who want their children and teens to excel in sports. However, these parents can see fear, doubt, and frustration on the faces of their kids who struggle with the “inner” game of sports. But these parents have no idea how to help their kids overcome the worries, expectations and self-defeating thoughts that prevent their young athletes from feeling confident and successful.
It’s difficult for sports parents to watch their kids under-perform in sports and lose self-esteem due to fear, doubt and tentativeness. It’s hard to stand idle and watch.
The solutions are not obvious. However, you, as a parent, can learn how to respond to your athletes’ fears, doubts, and frustrations. You can develop happy, successful kids who are “mentally tough” in sports – and life!