How Self-Talk Will Change Your Game Sports kids can determine if self-talk influences their performance by thinking of competitions when they fell apart. What were their thoughts before spiraling downward? Did they mentally beat themselves up over a mistake or tell themselves they have no talent? Did they talk themselves … Read Sport Psychology Tip
How to Handle Criticism How has negative criticism affected your young athlete’s confidence in past athletic competitions? Even though criticism can be helpful, it is also hurtful. Negative criticism can cause kids to doubt their abilities. It can destroy their confidence. Negative comments from media, parents, teammates, coaches and fans … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Are Losses Devastating or motivating? This is a question sports kids should ask themselves. Some athletes allow one defeat, especially if the competition was significantly important to them, to take the wind out of their sails. They believe the possibility of another defeat is not worth the long hours of … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Pressure is part of sports for young athletes. In fact, you would be hard pressed to find athletes who say they haven’t experienced some pressure. As sports kids become more competitive, pressure seems to increase and, for many athletes, that can be an overwhelming aspect of the athletic experience.Athletes respond … Read Sport Psychology Tip
What is “Choking” — Crumble Under Pressure. Some examples of chokers: Choking is under performing during pressure moments of a game or competition. The problem is not about kids’ ability to perform. It’s about performing under pressure. For chokers, pressure becomes overwhelming and interferes with performing in the moment. When … Read Sport Psychology Tip
How to Help Your Athletes Stop Tearing Down Themselves Are your sports kids critical of themselves? After every mistake or bad game, do they put themselves down? When kids criticize themselves excessively, they experience fractured confidence, low motivation and under performance. The criticism also creates a loop: they perform badly…they … Read Sport Psychology Tip