No matter how well-intended coaches may be, they still can fall into the behavior that was common when they grew up, namely the “tough love” coaching style. While it was once common for coaches to be viewed as taskmasters, rather than bullies, sports psychology has furthered our knowledge of how … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Sports parents can easily become upset with coaches who play favorites. When this happens, parents face a dilemma: Should they approach coaches about their athletes’ lack of playing time and risk making matters worse? Your first step is to confirm your beliefs about a coach who is playing favorites. Parents … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Parents should never under-estimate the importance of coaches in their children’s lives. Coaches can boost or undermine kids’ confidence and self-esteem. If you see any signs that a coach is hurting your young athlete’s confidence, it’s critical to take action. Parents should be wary of coaches who yell at, tease, … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Individual talent alone won’t make a team successful. Team members must be able to understand and take advantage of each other’s strengths to be successful. That’s teamwork. Coaches play an important role in enhancing teamwork. They set the tone for the whole team. If the coach is committed to the … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Coaches often begin their youth coaching career without a coaching philosophy. But it’s a good idea to have one in place. Generally, coaches’ philosophies are based on their knowledge, experiences and beliefs. These serve as a guide to helping coaches make decisions. Why are coaching philosophies important? Coaches’ philosophies are … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Coaches who over-correct or pick apart kids’ technique and criticize their players can undermine kids’ confidence and cause them to perform poorly and lose their enjoyment for the game. Coaches often get in the habit of pointing out only mistakes in their play or technique. They might say, “You forgot … Read Sport Psychology Tip