Young athletes Commonly Struggle with Comparison Summary: Many young athletes struggle with comparing themselves to teammates and competitors, which often hurt the athletes confidence and performance. Constant comparison shifts focus away from their own skills and creates jealousy or intimidation. To build confidence, sports kids should focus on their unique … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Helping Young Athletes Get Over Mistakes For baseball players, making mistakes is the biggest challenge, says Josh Thole, former catcher for the New York Mets and Toronto Blue Jays. Working with the makers of a new app, Players Way, he’s on a mission to help keep youth baseball players in … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Letting Kids Decide What Sports They Want to Play To be a supportive sports parent, you first have to ensure your kids are having fun. Second, you should help ensure they are prepared for practices and games, says Sharkie Zartman, a college professor, UCLA and USA national team volleyball athlete, … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Feelings Can be Contagious in Youth Sports Summary: Emotional contagion in youth sports happens when young athletes pick up on the emotions of parents, coaches, or teammates—whether positive or negative. Kids often mimic body language, tone, and expressions, which can boost or hurt performance. Negative emotions, such as frustration or … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Helping Young Athletes Boost Resilience Summary: Mental Toughness is a critical trait that helps young athletes bounce back from losses, injuries, and other challenges. Parents and coaches play a key role in fostering resilience by modeling problem-solving skills, encouraging creative solutions, and guiding kids to reflect on their experiences. Focusing … Read Sport Psychology Tip
How to Control What is Controllable Summary: Young athletes often experience anxiety when they try to control factors beyond their influence, such as opponents, weather, or coaching decisions. By focusing instead on controllable elements—like effort, attitude, preparation, nutrition, and rest—they gain a sense of empowerment and reduce stress. This “control … Read Sport Psychology Tip