Building Confidence in Young Athletes1

Honest Game, a female-owned sports tech company, conducted research in 12 states to date and has found that about 50% of high schools in the states studied lack an educational pathway for students to play NCAA college sports. This issue disproportionally impacts kids at under-resourced schools, where as many as one in two athletes lack the courses required by the NCAA.

Joyce Anderson, co-founder and COO of Honest Game, explains how Honest Game can help ensure athletes complete the required courses.

As an attorney, Judie Saunders represents youth athletes in civil court, internal investigations, mediations and arbitrations.

Bullying by coaches, physical and verbal abuse and sexual abuse are some of the issues she addresses for her youth athlete clients. Racial slurs and body shaming are also issues she addresses.

Saunders, who serves as co-chair of Griesing Law’s confidential & sensitive investigations practice group, gives tips to parents about the legal avenues they can pursue for their sports kids. She stresses the need to remove kids from teams if they feel unsafe.

New concussion rules and regulations can build respect in young athletes for their opponents. In addition, the rules don’t hurt kids’ other mental game skills.

That’s the word from Thomas Heiden, who played college hockey at Notre Dame and has coached many different sports for a few decades. He’s also a trial lawyer with Latham and Watkins and has tried high-profile sports lawsuits, including a high school concussion class action lawsuit.

Teams can keep score, even when kids are young, and the players will still have fun and learn physical and mental game skills.

That's the message from former Walt Disney Studios Executive Sasha Graham, a sports mom, former youth sports coach and author of “Whitney Wins Everything.”

Keeping score means young athletes learn how to cope with mistakes and losses. And they're better team players, she argues.

Stereotypes about girls in sports hurt girls' confidence, dreams and performance, says Donny DeDonatis III, CEO of the United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA), a former pro athlete and the dad of twins in youth sports.

He describes his worries about how such stereotypes affect his own daughter, age 7, and what he's doing to ensure girls and women have equal opportunities in sports.

A study by the Aspen Institute and Utah State University–commissioned by TeamSnap–revealed what parents want most from youth sports and how the pandemic affected kids’ ability to meet those goals.

Team Snap’s survey showed that parents, most of all, want kids to have fun, said Peter Frintzilas, CEO of TeamSnap, a youth sports management app.

Only 54 percent of parents said their kids are still having fun. Only 52 percent said that participating in youth sports is having a positive impact on kids’ mental health. And 52 percent said they felt like their young athletes were performing at pre-pandemic levels, meaning they hadn’t improved.

How can parents help kids whose confidence and performance were undermined during the pandemic?

Coming out of the pandemic provides a much-needed opportunity to re-design youth sports in a way that provides kids with more fun and human connection, and ultimately, more confidence.

That’s the word from Meredith Whitley, PhD, associate professor in Adelphi’s School of Health Sciences and co-editor of the Journal of Sport for Development. She provides tips for building connection and giving kids more control of their experience. She also suggests ways to create an inclusive and supportive team culture.

Communicating and connecting with sports kids is an important bonus of youth sports. Harley Rotbart, pediatrician, sports parent and author of the bestselling No Regrets Parenting says it’s important for parents to take advantage of the opportunities to connect with kids while helping them participate in youth sports. The car ride is one great opportunity, he says.

During this “unprecedented” pandemic, it’s also critical to help sports kids cope with the challenges of social distancing and political battles at home, in school and at sports over mask wearing and vaccinations, he says.

In their efforts to help sports kids develop a growth mindset, parents and coaches should keep in mind that giving too many compliments can get kids "stuck" thinking they don't need to grow in certain areas, says Michaela Renee Johnson, bestselling author and a top iTunes podcaster with her ”But Why” podcast which encourages people to look at life with a growth mindset. She’s also a licensed therapist.

Body image worries. Fears of excelling and being chosen to lead. These issues undermine girls’ experiences in sports. Girls and young women not only worry about how they look; they’re concerned that other girls will be angry with them for doing well and being chosen for leadership positions, says Breanne Smedley, a certified female athlete Confidence Coach, former college volleyball player, youth sports coach and founder of The Elite Competitor. Girls and young women also mirror their mothers’ confidence issues, she says.

Communicating feelings, deep breathing and exercise are just three activities that help boost resilience in sports kids, says Dr. Randall Bell, a former youth sports coach and sports parent, a socio-economist and author of "Post-Traumatic Thriving: The Art, Science, & Stories of Resilience."

Coaches and parents can help kids bounce back after setbacks by encouraging them to talk about how they feel, helping them practice deep breathing and ensuring they get exercise. It's also important for coaches and parents to acknowledge kids' feelings and use positive language, he says.

Coaches naturally help accomplish these goals by providing an outlet for exercise, holding team meetings and being good listeners, he says.

Parents need to remember that sports should be the kids' journey, not the parents', says Amy Oliphant, a former Division 1 tennis player and founder, Transcend Mental Training, which provides mental conditioning coaching. What other tips does the youth sports coach and mom to four athletes suggest? Kids should play multiple sports, rather than specializing early and should help young athletes focus on the process.

"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.

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.

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.

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/#

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?

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.

Kate T Parker. a professional photographer and New York Times bestselling author of The Heart of a Boy and Strong is the New Pretty talks about girls and body image. How can parents help girls worry less about how they look in sports? She also addresses what she sees as the top challenge for girls in sports: how their parents communicate with them.

Parker is an ironman and former collegiate (and current rec) soccer player.

Christie Pearce Rampone, a two-time Women's World Cup champion, three-time Olympic gold medalist, and former captain of the US Women’s National Soccer Team teams up with sports neuropsychologist and brain health expert Dr. Kristine Keane to provide tips to sports parents.

In this podcast episode, the pair, authors of “Be All In: Raising Kids for Success in Sports and Life,” address topics that include alleviating youth sports pressures, dealing with perfectionists, helping kids learn from mistakes and why to avoid specialization.

Brian Levenson, a mental performance coach and author of "Shift Your Mind,"
describes helpful mindsets in youth sports, including "uncomfortable
in preparation, comfortable in performance" and "selfish in preparation,
selfless in performance."

His aim is to help athletes, teams and organizations unlock their
potential by understanding and embracing these mindsets. The key is to focus on "strong skills," including communication, resilience and teamwork, he says.

Adelaide Goodeve began coaching athletes of all ages in a very roundabout way.

When she was struggling with chronic fatigue syndrome, she learned how to retrain her brain, and in doing so, became a triathlete.

Now Adelaide helps pro and amateur athletes cut minutes off their time by finding performance solutions using mindset strategies & neuro performance technology.

With sports kids, she focuses on using visualization and other strategies to improve their confidence.

Amy Bass, author of "One Goal: A Coach, a Team and the Game That Brought a
Divided Town Together,” relates how refugees from Somalia brought soccer
to the town of Lewiston, Maine and changed it in remarkable ways.

The soccer coach listened to the refugee community and showed empathy to make
this transition happen, says Bass, a professor of sport studies at
Manhattanville College.

She touches on the importance of athletes serving as role models in
troubling times.

Ultimate Sports Parent Radio once again interviews Kelly Gray, this time about the benefits of kids embracing a growth mindset in sports. He also provides parents tips about what they should be looking for while kids aren't playing sports during the COVID-19 crisis. Parents should be sure to focus on what kids are passionate about--and not what they've "had" to do in sports.

Gray is a former professional soccer player who has worked for many years with youth sports organizations. He’s founder of Kelly Gray Sports and South Bay Football Club.

Ultimate Sports Parent Radio interviews Kelly Gray, a former professional soccer player who has many years experience working with youth sports organizations. He’s founder of Kelly Gray Sports and South Bay Football Club. His message: Kids shouldn't view youth sports as a job. They shouldn't be pressured by parents. He gives tips for ensuring young athletes have more fun and reap benefits long-term.

It’s still possible for kids to stay involved in sports during COVID-19 isolation, says
Spencer Gordon, partnership manager for the Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) Portland in this podcast episode.

PCA, which aims to create better athletes and people, has launched a “Life as a Team Sport” campaign, which includes many online resources for helping young athletes tune up their mental game skills. It includes Zoom meetings and Facebook Live events that feature well-known athletes.

Gordon gives parents tips for keeping kids engaged in sports while they're in isolation. He focuses on the potential to boost kids' mental games during this time period.

Ultimate Sports Parent Radio interviews Nancy Lough, professor at
University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV), who focuses on gender equity in
sports, explains why more girls drop out of sports than boys. It's due, in
part, to stereotypes about what boys and girls should be doing.She also
describes how girls are becoming more actively involved in pushing for
equal pay in professional sports.

Caroline Maguire, author of "Why Will No One Play with Me?" and a
professional certified coach who has worked with Olympic and other
athletes, gives tips for helping young athletes read others' cues. Being
better able to respond to social cues improves players' experience, helps
them avoid getting into trouble and allows them to listen to direction, she
says. She addresses other mental game topics, including fear of failure and
perfectionism.

The pressures of modern youth sports are creating stress related mental health issues in young athletes. But there’s a non-traditional way of addressing this stress.

That’s what we learned during our interview with Bradley Donohue, a psychology professor at University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), and director of The Optimum Performance Program in Sports (TOPPS), a mental health program for athletes.

New studies show that 14% of soccer and other players age 6-12 drop out of sports. Until now, the focus has been on older kids--the fact that more than 50% of kids drop out of sports by age 13.

In this Ultimate Sports Parent Radio interview with Ben Benjamin Dudley, executive director of Positive Coaching Alliance, Portland, and Mark Lawton, a longtime coach and volunteer PCA impact coach, we learn what the problem is, and get suggestions for helping solve it. Visit https://devzone.positivecoach.org/ to get more tips from PCA.

Ultimate Sports Parent Radio interviews Ted Theocheung, CEO of the
Specialized Foundation, about recent studies that show how exercise boosts
brain function, attention and concentration in kids with ADHD--and everyone
else. The foundation has partnered with Stanford University to fund
research to better understand the effects of exercise on brain function and
cognition in children with ADHD. During the interview, the experts stress
that exercise helps all kids with brain function and concentration.

Girls drop out of sports at a rate that's six times higher than boys, research shows. In this podcast, Lisa Cohn, host of Ultimate Sports Parent Radio, interviews Samantha Salvia, a World Champion Ultimate Frisbee player who leads Positive Coaching Alliance workshops for coaches, athletes, and sports parents in the San Francisco Bay Area, and Benjamin Dudley, sports dad, coach and executive director for the Portland Chapter of the Positive Coaching Alliance. They address why girls are dropping out and how the trend can be reversed.

In this Ultimate Sports Radio podcast episode, mental game coach Dr.
Patrick Cohn discusses how the pregame jitters can help kids focus better
and boost their energy just before a game. However, sometimes those
butterflies and sweaty palms are more than just jitters; they2019re
actually performance anxiety.Visit www.Ultimatesportsparent.com and stay
tuned for our new 10-Minute Pregame Prep program

Kirk Mango is a former Division I National Champion, 3-Time All-American, 3-Time Hall of Fame Athlete, and was selected in 2009 as #8 on Northern Illinois University's Top 50 Huskies of All-Time list. In high school, however, his coach told him he wouldn't make it. Mango, who says he was a mediocre gymnast at the time, set his sights on become a state champion--in 10 months.
What choices did Mango make, what mental mindset did he embrace to make it to the top--and even publish a book, "Becoming a True Champion?"

Ultimate Sports Parent Radio interviews Dr. Christopher Stankovich, Ph.D.,
a professional athletic counselor, about how more and more kids are
prescribed medications for mental health issues and how the medications
affects kids' mental game. Stankovich, who believes the medications are
over-prescribed, says that, among other things, the meds hurt undermine
kids' creativity and spontaneity--essential traits in youth sports and
life.