Kids sports psychology articles for sports parents, young athletes, and team coaches to improve and learn mental game performance and consistency.
Helping Young Athletes Boost Resilience Summary: Mental Toughness is a critical trait that helps young athletes bounce back from losses, injuries, and other challenges. Parents and coaches play a key role in fostering resilience by modeling problem-solving skills, encouraging creative solutions, and guiding kids to reflect on their experiences. Focusing … Read Sport Psychology Tip
How to Control What is Controllable Summary: Young athletes often experience anxiety when they try to control factors beyond their influence, such as opponents, weather, or coaching decisions. By focusing instead on controllable elements—like effort, attitude, preparation, nutrition, and rest—they gain a sense of empowerment and reduce stress. This “control … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Help Your Athletes Close out Competitions Summary: Young athletes often struggle to maintain confidence and composure when holding a lead, which can cause them to not play confidently to win. Learning how to close out games is essential for building mental toughness and competitive confidence. Teaching kids to play with … Read Sport Psychology Tip
The Importance of Balance in an Athlete’s Life Summary: To avoid burnout in young athletes requires promoting balance, positive reinforcement, and life lessons beyond sports. Parents should model healthy habits and a well-rounded lifestyle while highlighting the broader benefits of athletics, such as teamwork, time management, and handling pressure. Encouraging … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Two Mental Skills Important for Success Summary: Building trust and confidence is essential for young athletes to perform at their best. When athletes trust their skills, they rely on practice and muscle memory, allowing them to stay focused and decisive under pressure. Confidence grows as athletes prepare, improve, and recognize … Read Sport Psychology Tip
How to Keep Sports Kids Motivated Summary: Motivating kids in sports requires setting small, tangible goals and celebrating progress. Break larger objectives into manageable increments so your child can track success. Tailor goals to match your child’s abilities and provide consistent recognition for accomplishments. Avoid using exercise as punishment, focusing … Read Sport Psychology Tip