Kids sports psychology articles for sports parents, young athletes, and team coaches to improve and learn mental game performance and consistency.
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
How Can Sports Parents Help Young Athletes Manage Pressure? Why Pressure Is Overwhelming So Many Young Athletes Pressure is part of sports. It always has been. You would be hard pressed to find a young athlete who has never felt the weight of expectations before a big game or during … Read Sport Psychology Tip
How Can Sports Parents Help Athletes Build Confidence? When Your Athlete Can’t Let Go After the Game Does your young athlete focus only on mistakes after they compete? Do they criticize their performance instead of looking at what they can learn and improve? Do they completely overlook what they did … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Helping Young Athletes Stay Confident During a Shooting Slump Where do your child’s thoughts go when they are in a shooting slump? Do they get frustrated and try to “fix their shot” mid-game? Do they obsess over stats, numbers, or results instead of staying engaged in the game? Do they … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Why Coaches Yell at Athletes? Summary: Coaches often yell at athletes because they believe it is the best way to get attention or deliver a wake-up call. Many lack effective communication skills and don’t realize the negative impact yelling has on young athletes. When coaches yell, athletes may shut down, … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Confidence is Key in Youth Sports Summary: Athletes boost confidence by balancing self-belief with managed expectations. High pressure to win or perform perfectly often leads to distraction and reduced focus. Kids should learn to focus on controllable factors such as effort, execution, and mindset instead of outcomes.Warning signs like “I … Read Sport Psychology Tip