Kids sports psychology articles for sports parents, young athletes, and team coaches to improve and learn mental game performance and consistency.
What Happens When You Focus on Winning Summary: Many youth sports parents struggle with the fact that coaches focus too much on winning, often at the expense of young athletes’ confidence and personal growth. When winning becomes the priority, kids who are less skilled may get left out, and those … Read Sport Psychology Tip
The Effects of Sideline Coaching Summary: This article explores the common issue of parents becoming overly involved in their children’s sports, often by coaching from the sidelines or pushing their own goals onto their kids. It tells the story of Sue Mak, a youth soccer coach and parent, who realized … Read Sport Psychology Tip
How to Help Your Sports Kid Achieve Their Goals Summary: Many young athletes struggle to stay committed and follow through on goals when their parents’ goals differ from their own. The key is helping kids identify their own athletic goals and supporting them in a way that encourages growth without … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Kids Who Take on A Positive Attitude Summary: Many young athletes struggle to reach their full potential in sports due to performance anxiety and fear of disappointing their coaches. This article highlights how sports parents can support their children in building confidence and shifting from a fear-based to a positive … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Sports Kids Who Focus Heavily on Their Competition Summary: Many young athletes psych out before competitions by focusing too much on their opponents’ strengths instead of their own. Julia Dreyer, an experienced equestrian and sports parent, noticed her teen daughters falling into this trap—comparing themselves to others and setting unrealistic … Read Sport Psychology Tip
What are the Guidelines for Sports Parents? Summary: Sports parents greatly influence their kids’ athletic experience. To help young athletes thrive, parents should focus on fun, support the mental game, avoid game-time coaching, and not tie self-worth to performance. Encouraging process over results helps build confidence and lasting enjoyment in … Read Sport Psychology Tip