Mental game and kids psychology articles for young athletes, sports parents, and team coaches to improve performance and mental fortitude on and off the field. Read article for and aspiring athletes.
For neurodiverse young athletes, struggles on the field, court or in the gym may have little to do with effort or motivation. Lisa Richer, founder of Journey to Bloom, says that coaches and parents need to look beyond performance and understand the individual athlete. Richer, a former elite gymnast who … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Craig Young, author of Growing Up Young: One Family’s Faith Journey to the NFL and father of Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young, says he damaged his relationship with his son by being overbearing about Bryce’s success in sports. “I was just hell-bent on, ‘he is not going to squander this gift,’” he … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Does Your Child Choke Under Pressure? Summary: Probably more often than they’ll admit. Choking happens when a young athlete underperforms in games compared to how they play in practice. It’s not a talent problem. It’s a mental one. Three factors drive it: negative self-talk, a fear-based perspective on pressure situations, … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Happiness for sports kids is more about contentment and balance, rather than constant pleasure, according to Jerry Weichman, a licensed clinical psychologist who helps young athletes with mental health challenges affecting confidence, motivation and performance. “”Happiness is more of a chemical reaction from your brain that comes from good things … Read Sport Psychology Tip
How Does bad Officiating Derailed Your Athlete’s Performance? One moment your young athlete is focused, competing well, and in control. Then the referee makes a call they disagree with. Suddenly, everything changes. Their body language drops. Their focus disappears. Their performance falls apart. This is one of the most common … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Young athletes realize a number of benefits when they embrace growth mindsets, said Iuri Melo, a youth sports coach, licensed clinical social worker and co-founder of SchoolPulise, which texts youth positive psychology statements to support their mental health. These kids tend to be optimists who try harder, for longer periods … Read Sport Psychology Tip