Building Confidence in Young Athletes

"Trust the training," says Mark Jeffery, a London-based former Army officer and Army tennis champion who is helping organize an online summit, "Winning Summit," which includes a Sept. 19 event for sports parents. https://earlybird.winningsummit.com/ Jeffery explains how sports kids can turn off their tendency to overthink and just go for it, or trust the training. His suggestions are based on his experiences as an Army officer in the UK.

When gymnast Simone Biles experienced the "twisties" during the 2021 Olympics and withdrew, was the move due to a mental toughness lapse or a mental health challenge? Lisa Cohn chats with her brother, mental game expert Dr. Patrick Cohn, about the incident. What can sports parents learn from Biles' experience? Did Biles let down her country or was she brave to express her fears and difficulties?

Chris Meyer coached his son's team for nine years, from kindergarten through 8th grade. In this interview, the author of "Four Months...and a Lifetime," explains how he focused on teaching the young athletes life lessons. He reveals what he learned from his players, and gives sports parents tips about ensuring their kids are happy and confident in sports.

Chris Meyer coached his son's team for nine years, from kindergarten through 8th grade. In this interview, the author of "Four Months...and a Lifetime," explains how he focused on teaching the young athletes life lessons. He reveals what he learned from his players, and gives sports parents tips about ensuring their kids are happy and confident in sports.

What does it mean when sports kids are "in" their hindbrain as opposed to their frontal lobe when practicing or competing? Pomai Miyata, a sports performance consultant, sports mom and founder of ICE Mental Game, explains that young athletes are more likely to perform intuitively, "just go for it" and get in the zone if they're in their hindbrain. She explains how parents can help their kids make the most of their hindbrains.

Sports kids may feel anxious about changing the routines they developed during the COVID pandemic, says Elizabeth Englander, a Ph.D psychologist, researcher, professor and author of "The Insanely Awesome Post-Pandemic Playbook." However, playing sports is a good way to transition to normal life, she says. She gives tips for helping sports kids make that transition.

Parents can connect with kids many ways when their kids are playing sports, says Dr. Harley Rotbart, pediatrician, sports parent and author of "No Regrets Living." One opportunity is helping them through losses or mistakes. Parents can teach kids to focus on being grateful for what they have, not on their losses. He also gives tips for focusing on growth, rather than winning.

Ryan Colby, a mental health specialist for athletes, is seeing a big jump in the number of kids experiencing anxiety and depression during the pandemic—and that includes sports kids who were already feeling pressure. “I’m seeing crazy spikes in anxiety and depression,” he says.

Kids can learn a number of “superpowers” by participating in sports--traits such as courage, resilience and character. That’s the message from Beth Brown, an educator with a Ph.D in sports psychology and the author of the children’s book series, “Adventures with Divot and Swish.” She’s also a former member of the University of Oklahoma basketball team as well as the conference champion women’s golf team.

Jack Canfield, co-creator of the "Chicken Soup for the Soul" series, peak performance expert and author of the new kids' book "I Can Believe in Myself" tells how to turn kids' "I can't" beliefs into "I can." He gives tips for helping kids step out of their comfort zone and explains how this helps them build confidence and learn life lessons. The father of four describes some of his experiences as a sports dad and coach.

Emotional contagion can run wild in youth sports teams, says Jess Woods, Ph.D, a sport and performance consultant, sports parent and youth sports coach. She explains how kids can "catch" emotions from parents, coaches and teammates, and how this can hurt--or help--a team's performance and perspective. She gives parents and coaches tips for helping kids avoid being negatively impacted by others' emotions in sports.

Resilience is an important trait for kids in sports. It helps them bounce back after losses, injuries and other types of adversity. Psychologist Kathryn Den Houter, author of Resilience: A Workbook: Powering Through Adversity to Find Happiness describes how parents can help kids be resilient and flexible. Dr. Den Houter is a former sports mom to a successful equestrian.

What's it like for a teen athlete to play sports, especially during the COVID-19 crisis? Deacon Clark is a high schooler who runs track and plays basketball. He discusses identity issues related to being an athlete, sports kids who aren't team players and what it was like feeling pressured to play basketball when he was injured. He described playing basketball in a school that didn't prepare well for COVID--and why he changed schools.

Why is it so important for young athletes to seek a balanced life, rather than focusing exclusively on sports? Hernan Chousa, a former tennis pro and sports dad to a Division 1 athlete, says that kids who lack balance will burn out more quickly and experience other challenges. Chousa will talk about parents in sports during a presentation at "The Winning Summit." https://2021.winningsummit.com/talks/parentshift/#

It’s important to build teams that focus on inclusion, which will boost all players’ confidence and success, says Nadine Haruni, a lawyer and author of “Freeda the Frog and Her New Blue Family.” She gives tips to help teams create inclusiveness and empathy for kids of color, as well as kids in non-traditional families. As a mother in a blended family with five kids, she speaks from experience.

For Cami Hawkins, CEO of Marathon Kids, which provides resources for schools to start running clubs, motivating kids is all about setting small goals and celebrating success. Hawkins describes how the organization’s coaches set goals that are specific to kids’ interests and abilities. They also celebrate participants’ successes

Kids and teens are getting sick from lack of exercise and outdoor play, says Dr. Dan O'Neill, an orthopedic surgeon, sports psychologist and author of "Survival of the Fit." Screen time and processed foods are the culprit. Twenty percent of kids are obese and many of them are suffering from ailments like diabetes, pre-diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol--adult illnesses.What can parents do to keep their kids healthy?

How does community help sports kids build confidence? V.J. Stanley, a coach, former teacher and author of numerous youth sports books explains how feeling supported by community boosts kids' confidence and performance. Equal playing time for kids 10 and under is just one way to build this community, he says. He also addresses the importance of trust, intuition and peace of mind in kids' sports.

Chasta Hamilton, author of "Trash the Trophies: How to Win Without Losing Your Soul" was seeing "red flags" In the dance scene, so decided to offer young dancers an alternative that feeds their souls. She instructs students to focus on the process, give back to their communities and embrace collaboration, among other issues. She tells Ultimate Sports Parent Radio how kids have grown from this program--and how kids in sports in general can benefit from this approach.

What's the link between having safe equipment--such as helmets--and feeling confident? Mike Oliver, executive director of the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE) says that kids are more likely to feel confident if their equipment is safe. But sometimes, expensive equipment will make them too cocky, and vulnerable to injuries.