Young Athletes' Identities Shouldn't be Just About Sports
Building Confidence in Young Athletes
Release Date: 03/06/2024
How Good Coaches Improve Kids' Mental Game in Sports
Building Confidence in Young Athletes
Good coaches can motivate athletes to try their hardest. They can help kids move on from mistakes. They can even change kids' lives, said Dylan Meyer, 22, founder of Legacy of Legends, which helps parents choose sports camps for their young athletes. Send podcast ideas: Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: Viist our youth sports psychology blog:
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How Hypnosis Helps Sports Kids Overcome Mental Barriers
Building Confidence in Young Athletes
Young athletes have very open minds, which is good and bad news in sports, says Susan Williams, a clinical hypnotherapist at SportHypnotherapy.com. On the one hand, criticism from coaches and parents can affect them at the subconscious level, creating mental roadblocks. But beccause kids' minds are so open. such challenges can be overcome with hypnotherapy, she said. When kids receive positive messages via hypnotherapy, it can "overwrite" the thoughts that are holding spports kids back. Send us podcast ideas: Subscribe and rate this podcast on Apple Podcasts: Visit our youth sports...
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Ensuring Sports Kids Don't Lose Their Passion
Building Confidence in Young Athletes
Cathy Spaas was a professional equestrian show jumper at a young age and suffered from pressure to perform. At age 14, she was riding at international shows, but began to feel like she wasn't good enough, she said. She lost her confidence and passion for the sport. Now, her goal at Your Success Trainer--Cathy Spaas is to ensure athletes don't have the same experience. Send podcast guest ideas: Visit our blog: Subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts:
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How Sports Kids Can Set Process Goals--and Why They Should
Building Confidence in Young Athletes
Young athletes who set high expectations often get frustrated when they don't meet their expectations. Mike Mancini, a certified mental performance coach, explains why setting process goals is important and gives examples of these goals. The aim is for young athletes to stay grounded in the moment, and avoid focusing on stats, scores or wins. Send podcast guest ideas: Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: Visit our youth sports psychology blog:
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How Sports Kids and Parents Should Communicate with Coaches
Building Confidence in Young Athletes
As a former college athlete, youth sports coach and sports parent, Eric Collins says his biggest challenge is being a sports parent. It's sometimes hard for him to let his son follow his own sports journey, he said. One way to allow kids to embrace their own journey is to encourage them to communicate directly with coaches. This gives them important skills that will serve them in other areas of their lives, he said. Submit guest ideas for this podcast: Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: Visit our blog:
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Three Characteristics That Help Sports Kids Feel Motivated Intrinsically
Building Confidence in Young Athletes
Competence, relatedness and autonomy are three characteristics that help sports kids feel intrinsically motivated, said Caleb Chambliss, a licensed mental health counselor, leadership coach and athlete development specialist. With these three characteristics, young athletes are more likely to feel in control, and as a result, motivated, he said. When sports kids feel out of control, they become demotivated, apathetic and often drop out. Send podcast guest ideas: Subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts: Visit our blog:
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Helping Sports Kids Become Leaders in Sports and Life
Building Confidence in Young Athletes
Often, kids are reluctant to step up as leaders. They may lack confidence or be afraid of being teased. Krissy Webb, co-founder and executive director of Student ACES, provides leadership training that focuses on developing core values such as respect and responsibility. This also improves kids' mental health, she said. Send podcast guest ideas: Subscribe to this podcast on Apple podcasts: Visit our blog:
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Helping Hockey Kids Develop an Emotional IQ
Building Confidence in Young Athletes
Because hockey can be an emotional game, youth who play hockey need to develop an emotional IQ. That's the message from Luc Beausoleil and Jeff Jarvis, co-founder of Ventura Vikings, a program for young athletes interested in playing hockey in college and professionally. The former professional hockey players give tips about how to help kids control their emotions and let go of games and mistakes. Creating a supportive team culture and strong relationships help kids meet these goal, they say. Subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts: Submit podcast guest ideas: Visit our youth...
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How to Identify Burnout in Sports Kids
Building Confidence in Young Athletes
When sports kids are feeling burned out, they aren't as interested in going to practices or games. They don't get as excited about wins, says Andrew Simpson, chief vision officer for Player's Fitness and Performance. But being burned out is a choice, he says. He helps kids understand their choices and suggests ways to avoid burnout--taking a day or a season off or switching to positions that suit them better, for example. Perfectionists are most likely to burn out, says Simpson. Parents and coaches can help them by suggesting they avoid negative thinking and focus on what they do well. Submit...
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Fear of Failure is a Top Worry for Young Athletes
Building Confidence in Young Athletes
Parents of kids as young as 7 or 8 are asking for Ashley Eckermann's help. Most of them are grappling with fear of failure. Eckermann, founder of Maximize the Mind Mental Performance Coaching, asks for lots of detail about kids' worries and goals so she can tailor her suggestions to each young athlete's situation. She also avoids using the term "be positive" because she thinks it creates high expectations in kids. Submit podcast episode ideas: Subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts: Visit our blog:
info_outlineSports kids face a number of challenges when their identity is wrapped up in sports, said Dr. Becca Wallace, a clinical pediatric psychologist at Children's Hospital in New Orleans.
When they get overly involved in sports, their identity becomes closely tied to being athletes.
If they're injured or have to stop playing sports, it can be devastating for young athletes whose identity is too tied to sports, she said. She suggests that parents help young athletes create more balance in their lives.
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