Juggling & Other Ways to Combat Negative Thinking in Youth Sports

Negative thinking hurts sports kids’ confidence and performance. But juggling, hypnosis and posting notes all over a sports kids’ house can combat this way of thinking, said Ignacio Segovia, a hypnotherapist, psychologist and mental performance coach.

Juggling–or even tossing a ball from one hand to the other before a game–can interrupt negative thoughts by occupying the athlete’s mind and senses, he said. With hypnosis, sports kids can substitute negative thoughts such as “I’m no good at sports” with positive thoughts. And when kids post notes all over their house with positive statements, kids’ subconscious holds onto the positive thoughts. It’s as if the house is talking to them, said Segovia.

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Patrick Cohn Owner and Founder
Kids Sports Psychology expert Patrick Cohn, Ph.D. has helped athletes for over 40 years to enhance their performance. Dr. Cohn earned a master's degree in sports psychology from CSUF and a Ph.D. from the University of Virginia, specializing in Applied Sports Psychology. Today, he is the president and founder of Peak Performance Sports, LLC in Orlando, Florida. He’s worked with athletes and teams for over 40 years including the Miami Dolphins, NASCAR winners, NHL, and NFL Players, Olympians, National Motocross Champions, as well as PGA Tour professional golfers.

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