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From Patrick Cohn, Ph.D Sports Psychology for Athletes, Parents, Coaches
If your sports kids worry about what their friends, team mates, parents, coaches and friends' friends think of their performance, they're not alone.
This is a common challenge for sports kids-and a big confidence buster.
For example, they may worry that their coaches will get upset if they make mistakes.
They may worry that their parents will be disappointed with their performance. Or they may think that their friends will laugh at them if they goof up.
Worry, worry, worry-a big mental game of sports no-no.
Kids who worry like this find it hard to play intuitively-a key to performing well.
Rather than just "going for it" and relying on all that they've learned, they get uptight. They're stiff. They don't take risks.
What happens? Exactly the opposite of what they'd like to happen! They can't perform like they do in practice.
This can be a vicious cycle: They worry about what others think, they goof up, they feel embarrassed, they feel even more worried. They don't take risks, they're stiff, they play badly....
To stop the cycle, they need to change what they're focusing on.
It's best if they can focus on what's happening in the here in now, right in front of them-in the gym or on the field-not on the sidelines!
To help them focus, they need to tell themselves to concentrate on the tasks they need to do to get their job done. That may mean getting their bodies in front of the goal if they play defense in ******, or passing well if they're point guards.
What's more, they can take advantage of other confidence-boosting tips. For example, they can recall all of their strengths, greatest achievements, and compliments and list these for review before a game.
If you'd like to learn lots more about helping your kids stop worrying and improve their confidence, we've got a program for you that's packed with information.
It's called "The Confident Sports Kid: A 7-Day Plan for Building Ultimate Self-Confidence."
It's actually two programs in one... Parents and coaches get their own CD and manual. Kids also get a CD and a workbook.
Learn how to help kids overcome worries, doubts, high expectations, negative thoughts, and other confidence-busters:
If your sports kids worry about what their friends, team mates, parents, coaches and friends' friends think of their performance, they're not alone.
This is a common challenge for sports kids-and a big confidence buster.
For example, they may worry that their coaches will get upset if they make mistakes.
They may worry that their parents will be disappointed with their performance. Or they may think that their friends will laugh at them if they goof up.
Worry, worry, worry-a big mental game of sports no-no.
Kids who worry like this find it hard to play intuitively-a key to performing well.
Rather than just "going for it" and relying on all that they've learned, they get uptight. They're stiff. They don't take risks.
What happens? Exactly the opposite of what they'd like to happen! They can't perform like they do in practice.
This can be a vicious cycle: They worry about what others think, they goof up, they feel embarrassed, they feel even more worried. They don't take risks, they're stiff, they play badly....
To stop the cycle, they need to change what they're focusing on.
It's best if they can focus on what's happening in the here in now, right in front of them-in the gym or on the field-not on the sidelines!
To help them focus, they need to tell themselves to concentrate on the tasks they need to do to get their job done. That may mean getting their bodies in front of the goal if they play defense in ******, or passing well if they're point guards.
What's more, they can take advantage of other confidence-boosting tips. For example, they can recall all of their strengths, greatest achievements, and compliments and list these for review before a game.
If you'd like to learn lots more about helping your kids stop worrying and improve their confidence, we've got a program for you that's packed with information.
It's called "The Confident Sports Kid: A 7-Day Plan for Building Ultimate Self-Confidence."
It's actually two programs in one... Parents and coaches get their own CD and manual. Kids also get a CD and a workbook.
Learn how to help kids overcome worries, doubts, high expectations, negative thoughts, and other confidence-busters: