How Can You Help Athletes Manage Stress and Pressure? Summary: Parents can help young athletes handle pressure by anticipating the stress that comes with each stage of development instead of reacting after it hits. Pressure tends to spike at predictable moments: joining a first team, navigating puberty, and competing for … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Does Your Child Choke Under Pressure? Summary: Probably more often than they’ll admit. Choking happens when a young athlete underperforms in games compared to how they play in practice. It’s not a talent problem. It’s a mental one. Three factors drive it: negative self-talk, a fear-based perspective on pressure situations, … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Happiness for sports kids is more about contentment and balance, rather than constant pleasure, according to Jerry Weichman, a licensed clinical psychologist who helps young athletes with mental health challenges affecting confidence, motivation and performance. “”Happiness is more of a chemical reaction from your brain that comes from good things … Read Sport Psychology Tip
How Does bad Officiating Derailed Your Athlete’s Performance? One moment your young athlete is focused, competing well, and in control. Then the referee makes a call they disagree with. Suddenly, everything changes. Their body language drops. Their focus disappears. Their performance falls apart. This is one of the most common … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Too often, sports kids see their identity as being athletes, said Tiffany Yvonne, founder of Playmaker Solutions, where she helps young athletes build emotional intelligence and confidence. When their identity is all about sports, they can quickly lose confidence if they make mistakes or lose games. ?”When you know who … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Why Do Young Athletes Let Up With a Lead? Young athletes let up with a lead because they shift their mental focus from execution to outcome — they start thinking about the win instead of competing in the moment. When kids assume the game is over before it is, their … Read Sport Psychology Tip