Youth athletes kids sports psychology articles for athletes, sports parents, and team coaches to improve performance and perform better. Read articles for sport parents.
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
Helping Young Athletes Stay Confident During a Shooting Slump Where do your child’s thoughts go when they are in a shooting slump? Do they get frustrated and try to “fix their shot” mid-game? Do they obsess over stats, numbers, or results instead of staying engaged in the game? Do they … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Andy Whittier knows how to cope with pressure. He transitioned from playing college football to representing the U.S. in the skeleton sport, a solo, head-first sled race down an icy track at speeds of up to 89 mph. At first, it was terrifying, he said during an interview with our … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Build Confidence in Kids Summary: Sports build a child’s confidence by teaching them that confidence is not genetic but a skill developed through effort and practice. When kids train consistently, improve weak areas, and commit to growth, their confidence rises. Confidence grows as young athletes set goals, track progress, and … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Our brain tends to lean toward negativity and could inhibit your focus on mental health. “The brain doesn’t understand today the difference between protecting us from a lion or a snake and protecting us from emotional states,” said Debbie O ‘Connell, president, Live Positive and Golf Positive and vice president, LPGA Northeast … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Without grit and discipline, young athletes won’t be successful, said Cary Knox, retired head coach and author of I Believe, which explores the legacies of Illinois sports legends. “You have to be gritty to be successful in just about anything you do,” he said. “You have to have a willingness to get … Read Sport Psychology Tip