Patrick Cohn

Improving Young Athletes’ Thinking to Boost Performance

Kids Sports Psychology for Parents and Young Athletes

It’s possible to speed up young athletes’ thinking and reaction time, says Dr. Ryan D’Arcy, a sports dad, professor and president of NeuroCatch, a medical device startup that evaluates cognitive function. For example, he recently used red light therapy to speed up a football player’s cognitive processing by 70 milliseconds. … Read Sport Psychology Tip

6 Ways How Sports Kids’ Expectations can Become Pressure 

How Sports Kids’ Expectations can Become Pressure

Pressure is part of sports for young athletes. Summary: Young athletes often face pressure from their own expectations and perceived demands from parents, coaches, and teammates. To cope with pressure, kids need to manage self-imposed standards, separate personal goals from others’ expectations, and focus on daily effort rather than outcomes. … Read Sport Psychology Tip

Choosing Neutral Thinking When Facing Adversity in Youth Sports

Kids Sports Psychology for Parents and Young Athletes

When sports kids face adversity, it’s not always easy to quickly shift from making mistakes to positive thinking. Instead, they should choose neutral thinking first, said Donovan Dreyer, owner of Get Ready Coaching and a sports dad with three teens. This involves focusing on a specific task that needs improvement. … Read Sport Psychology Tip