Kids sports psychology articles for sports parents, young athletes, and team coaches to improve and learn mental game performance and consistency.
How to Gain Self-Control Summary: Young athletes learn from their parents’ behavior on the sidelines. Children often mimic how adults react to mistakes, bad calls, or stressful situations during games. Negative reactions, like yelling at referees or criticizing opponents, can embarrass children and affect their confidence.Parents should remain calm, exhibit … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Should You Give Last-Minute Advice? Summary: Youth tennis players perform best when parents provide consistent support and encouragement rather than technical advice during matches. Emphasizing effort over results helps children stay confident and motivated. Subtle changes in parental attitude, such as facial expressions or tone of voice, can negatively affect … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Keeping Expectations Under Control Summary: Parental expectations place a lot of pressure on their children in sports, sometimes using them to fulfill their own ambitions or relive missed opportunities. Many overestimate the likelihood of college scholarships and link their self-worth to their child’s performance. Focusing too much on elite coaching … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Individual Talent Alone won’t Make a Team Successful Summary: You can build teamwork by athletes’ understanding each others strengths and respecting their roles. Coaches play a central role by setting the tone, staying consistent with rules, and treating all players equally. Clear communication about responsibilities and strategy builds trust and … Read Sport Psychology Tip
What to do When Your Athletes Isn’t Self-Motivated Summary: Parents play a major role in shaping how motivated kids feel about sports. Children who are self-motivated athletes stay in sports longer and enjoy the experience more, while kids who only play to satisfy parents often quit under pressure. You can … Read Sport Psychology Tip
How to Encourage Without Pressure Summary: Parents often pressure young athletes without realizing it. You should try to encourage your child without pressure. Overemphasizing results, charting mistakes, or being overly involved can create stress and hurt performance. Kids thrive when parents focus on effort, improvement, and the process of learning. … Read Sport Psychology Tip