Building Confidence in Young Athletes
Episodes
Sports Kids Should Follow Their Dreams, Says Former Professional Golfer
09 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Former professional golfer Jay Delsing, author of "You Wouldn't Believe Me If I Told You," describes how he pursued his sports dream and says young at...
Help Sports Kids Overcome Performance Blocks
26 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Young athletes who forget skills, freeze up or make avoidable mistakes and who can't meet their practice performance during competitions are strugglin...
How Sports Kids Can Build Confidence Under Pressure
05 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Andy Whittier knows how to cope with pressure. He transitioned from playing college football to representing the U.S. in the skeleton sport, a solo, h...
Motivate Sports Kids by Identifying Their Brain Type
21 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
P.J. Glassey, personal trainer, "biohacker" at XGym.com, and author of Cracking Your Calorie Code, has identified 16 brain types that help determine h...
Overcoming Adversity in Youth Sports By Being "All In"
06 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When sports kids face challenges such as injuries or mistakes, they're more likely to overcome them by being "all in"--committed to working hard and i...
When a Coach Seems to Pick Favorites in Youth Sports
24 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Parents are very emotional about their kids' youth sports experience, and they're pouring a lot of money into youth sports. Because of these factors, ...
Anxiety Strikes When Sports Kids Can't Stay in the Moment
10 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Teen athletes experience anxiety when they can’t be in the moment, said Kate Kelley-Schneider, a psychotherapist and sports mindset coach at Pure He...
The Benefits of Neuroscience-Based Visualization Feedback for Young Athletes
26 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What if young athletes could practice visualization and then receive feedback in real time that improves their performance? Konstantin Sonkin, a neuro...
His Daughter Won 8 Medals in Dragon Boat Racing. Here's His Advice
12 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Elite athletes from across the world competed in the 17th IDBF World Dragon Boat Racing Championships, and 14-year-old Ysabella won 8 medals in the ju...
Do Youth Sports Really Build Character in Athletes?
04 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It's a myth that participating in youth sports will build character in youing athletes, say Brian Smith and Ed Uszynski, authors of "Away Game: A Chri...
Why Youth Sports Bullying Programs Don't Work & How to Change Them
23 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Forty-two percent of children report being bullied by coaches or physical education teachers. Common bullying programs don't work, said Tom Dahlborg, ...
When an Athletic Identity Hurts Kids in Sports
02 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When athletes' identities are wrapped up in sports, they can experience pressure and high expectations. What's more, they might become disappointed if...
This is How Sports Kids Can Push Past Challenges
17 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sports kids should push past challenges by focusing on incremental steps rather than the bigger end goal, said Dianette Wells, a world-class mountaine...
The Benefits of a Growth Mindset for Sports Kids
04 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Young athletes realize a number of benefits when they embrace growth mindsets, said Iuri Melo, a youth sports coach, licensed clinical social worker a...
Girls in Sports Grapple with Identity, Confidence Issues
21 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Research shows that girls' identities can get too wrapped up in sports, said Marlene Holmes, a mental health advocate, sports social worker and region...
Building Confidence by Teaching Sports Kids Discipline
06 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sabrina Yavil, sports mom to three boys and founder of Gryme, struggled with encouraging her kids to clean up after practices and games. What's more, ...
3 Ways Sports Kids Can Take Charge of Their Emotions
23 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The human brain tends to lean toward negativity. It doesn't understand the difference between protecting us from a snake or lion and protecting us fro...
Teaching Young Athletes Grit and Discipline
01 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Without grit and discipline, young athletes won't be successful, said Cary Knox, retired head coach and author of "I Believe," which explores the lega...
Unlocking Young Runners’ Potential with Nutrition
18 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Adolescent runners are still growing, and it's critical to support their growth with nutrition that supports their brain and bone health, said Michele...
Why Kids Stop Enjoying Sports
05 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Young athletes often stop enjoying sports because they're perfectionists, compare themselves to others or "mind read," or make assumptions about what ...
Rising Costs are Reducing Access to Youth Sports and Its Benefits
18 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The emotional, social, physical and academic benefits of youth sports are well documented. But the rising costs of participating are undermining young...
Why Kids Lack Competitiveness in Youth Sports
04 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Young athletes lack competitiveness in sports in part because they compare themselves to others, when they need to focus on their own strengths. They ...
How Can Gifted Kids Best Navigate Youth Sports?
22 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Gifted kids often focus exclusively on sports and fail to make friends or participate in other activities, said Susan Williams, a clinical hypnotherap...
Creating Emotionally Intelligent Players and Leaders in Sports
08 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If people who lead in youth sports--coaches, captains, players and parents--are emotionally inteligent, they're more likely to help a team weather its...
Juggling & Other Ways to Combat Negative Thinking in Youth Sports
11 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Negative thinking hurts sports kids' confidence and performance. But juggling, hypnosis and posting notes all over a sports kids' house can combat thi...
Helping Sports Kids Respond to Setbacks
27 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Young athletes should respond thoughtfully to setbacks, using visualization and breath control to ensure they don't react with emotion. That's the mes...
How Good Coaches Improve Kids' Mental Game in Sports
12 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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,...
How Hypnosis Helps Sports Kids Overcome Mental Barriers
30 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Young athletes have very open minds, which is good and bad news in sports, says Susan Williams, a clinical hypnotherapist at SportHypnotherapy.com. On...
Ensuring Sports Kids Don't Lose Their Passion
16 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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...
How Sports Kids Can Set Process Goals--and Why They Should
24 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Young athletes who set high expectations often get frustrated when they don't meet their expectations. Mike Mancini, a certified mental performance co...
How Sports Kids and Parents Should Communicate with Coaches
10 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 ha...
Three Characteristics That Help Sports Kids Feel Motivated Intrinsically
21 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Competence, relatedness and autonomy are three characteristics that help sports kids feel intrinsically motivated, said Caleb Chambliss, a licensed me...
Helping Sports Kids Become Leaders in Sports and Life
30 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Helping Hockey Kids Develop an Emotional IQ
10 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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...
How to Identify Burnout in Sports Kids
12 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 S...
Fear of Failure is a Top Worry for Young Athletes
29 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 Maxi...
Speeding up Sports Kids' Thinking with Neuroscience
14 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It's possible to speed up young athletes' thinking and reaction time, says Dr. Ryan D'Arcy, a sports dad, professor and president of NeuroCatch, a med...
Choosing Neutral Thinking When Faced with Adversity in Youth Sports
24 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When kids make mistakes or are struggling during a game in youth sports, it's not easy to quickly switch to positive thinking. Instead, young athletes...
Helping Kids Develop Their Signature Style in Sports
10 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Rather than telling sports kids how to play, parents and coaches should help kids develop their signature style, says Craig Lambert, former chief spor...
Mental Game Challenges of Injuries in Youth Sports
26 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Carter Hogg, a 20-year-old college football player and inventor of a neck guard to help athletes avoid injuries, discusses the fear of getting injured...
Young Athletes' Identities Shouldn't be Just About Sports
06 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Sports kids face a number of challenges when their identity is wrapped up in sports, said Dr. Becca Wallace, a clinical pediatric psychologist at Chil...
Getting All The Goodness Out of Sports
19 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
There's so much goodness that can come from participating in youth sports, but ensuring kids experience that goodness requires teams to establish team...
How This Program Addresses Emotional Outbursts in Youth Sports
30 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Kids get emotional in street hockey. They might throw their hockey sticks because they missed a shot, for example. Coaches with the Charlotte Street H...
How This Sports Program Helps Black Kids Excel in Life
17 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The L.E.A.D. Center for Youth in Atlanta focuses on helping Black kids and teens learn skills that help them excel in life--and the program is working...
How This Baseball Coach Made it to a Championship Game by Connecting with Kids
03 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation Field Champion DeAndre Dukes recently led his players--from underserved communities in L.A.--to a baseball championship...
How A Toxic Sports Culture Hurts Kids' Mental Health
13 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When kids' sports culture is toxic--when coaches yell at and embarrass kids, for example, it can hurt kids' mental health and self esteem. Hillary Cau...
Creating a Culture of Connection and Encouragement for Low-Income Soccer Players
29 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Kaig Lightner founded Portland Community Football Club 10 years ago, providing coach mentors, free uniforms and no-cost or low-cost opportunities for ...
How to Make Youth Sports Fun for All Ages
07 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
With hula hoops, teddy bears and competitions, Rally Day Camps aims to ensure youth sports is fun for all ages. Kevin Hoover, CEO of Rally Day Camps a...
How Archery Can Build Confidence and Focus in Kids
25 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Archery can provide many benefits to kids, including confidence, focus and a feeling of success. Kids realize these benefits quickly because they ofte...
The Link Between Sports Kids' Mental Health and Mental Game
11 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Kids' mental game is critical to youth sports--and improving mental health can boost kids' mental game and performance. That's the word from Laura Eri...
How Coaches Can Build Resilience in Sports Kids
27 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Kids and teens say they lack connections with adults in their schools, says Paul Caccamo, CEO and founder, Up2Us Sports, a coach training program. You...
How Nutrition Affects Sports Kids' Focus and Performance
13 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When kids skip breakfast, they have trouble focusing and underperform in sports, said Steph Magill, a registered dietitian and mother to two teen athl...
How Social Media Hurts Sports Kids' Confidence
30 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When sports kids see other young athletes perform well in social media, they make comparisons, which can sink their confidence. Often, a 10-second cli...
How Sports Kids Can Avoid Panicking by Understanding Neuroscience
09 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When athletes feel pressure, they naturally tend to panic, said Conor Hogan, author of The Gym Upstairs: The Neuroscience of Future Champions. If they...
Why Girls Drop out of Sports at Higher Rates than Boys
26 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In high school, girls in sports drop out at higher rates than boys. Kathryn Ackerman, a physician and dirctor of the Female Athlete Program in the spo...
The Benefits of Hypnotherapy for Sports Kids
05 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Sports kids coping with performance anxiety, low confidence and other mental game challenges can benefit from hypnotherapy, said Lark Ericson, a certi...
The Power of Empathy in Youth Sports
21 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Empathy is a powerful confidence builder on youth sports teams, says Dr. Conor Hogan, author of The Gym Upstairs: The Neuroscience of Future Champions...
Addressing Anxiety, Mistakes & Low Confidence in Youth Sports
07 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Performance anxiety, mistakes and low confidence are some of the mental game struggles girls grapple with on Leah Jantzen's high school volleyball tea...
This Coach Trained a Blind 23-Year-Old in Karate
24 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Karate is all about the mental game, says Master Rande Lawrence, head instructor at Lawrence World Class Karate in Fayatteville, N.Y. He helps Matthew...
Young Athletes Should Park Their Egos & Embrace Teamwork, says Hall of Fame Lacrosse Player
10 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Athletes need to park their egos at the door and embrace teamwork, says Syd Abernathy, a two-time All-American former Navy lacrosse player who was rec...
The Downside of Elite and Travel Teams for Young Athletes
26 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What's the downside of elite and travel teams for young athletes? These teams require parents to pay, and that creates a dicey relationship among pare...
Show Sports Kids You Care about More Than the Win
05 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Sports parents need to show their young athletes that they care about more than the win. That's the word from Wayne LaMarre, clinical professor and di...
Help Young Athletes Avoid Burnout--Before It's Too Late
22 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Sun Sachs can speak from experience about burnout in sports. The CEO and founder of Rewire Fitness--which helps athletes develop mental fitness--began...
Yes, College Recruiters Evaluate Players' Mental Game
01 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
For college recruiters, players' mental game is important. Recruiters learn about kids' mental game skills--or deficiencies--by talking to high school...
With the Right Mental Game, Diabetic Pro Basketball Player Thrives
15 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Lauren Cox was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at a young age, and she worried that her health condition would crush her dreams of becoming a high-leve...
Helping Plus-Size Kids Enjoy Sports and Avoid Dropping Out
31 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Plus-size kids face a number of challenges in youth sports, including feeling uncomfortable in ill-fitting clothes, being the targets of bullies and f...
How Overuse Injuries Hurt Sports Kids' Mental Game
18 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When sports kids experience overuse injuries, it often hurts their mental game, often leading to burnout. Robert Weil, a sports podiatrist and host of...
What Do Young Athletes Want from their Sports Experience?
04 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It's easy to assume that young athletes are most interested in winning games and competitions. But that's not what the research says, according to Bil...
Tips for Young Athletes with Focusing Challenges like ADHD, ADD
14 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Understanding instuctions from coaches is one of the challenges sports kids with ADHD and ADD face. Jazlyn Pipkins, founder and owner of Jazletics, gi...
How This Olympian Overcame Adversity after Almost Losing Both Legs
30 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
At age 19, Cliff Meidl survived an electric shock that prompted his doctors to say they needed to amputate both legs above the knees. But his mother d...
The 3-Point Pre-game Plan for Sports Kids
15 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
If young athletes embrace this 3-point pre-game plan, they'll experience more success--in and out of sports, says Jazlyn Pipkins, founder and owner of...
Keep Young Athletes in Sports by Lowering Costs, Boosting Visibility
02 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Young athletes often drop out of sports if they can't keep up with the status quo and pay for travel teams or expensive camps, clubs and training, say...
How Visualization and Deep Breathing Help Sports Kids Excel
19 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Visualization and deep breathing are critical mental game skills, says Dion von Moltke, former professional race car driver and co-foudner of Blayze, ...
Preparing Young Athletes for Transitions in Sports
05 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Young athletes are often not prepared for the transitions ahead of them, which may include moving from high school to college sports, playing Division...
Helping Sports Kids Embrace Mental Game Training
21 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Many sports kids don't understand what mental game training involves, and resist it. They think it's some kind of therapy. Truth is, mental game train...
How to Keep Girls in Sports
07 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
About 70% of kids drop out of sports by the time they are 14, and of those, twice as many girls drop out than boys. That's the word from Nicole McCo...
Surprise! Athletes Need This to Play in College
24 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Honest Game, a sports tech company, conducted research in 12 states and found that about 50% of high schools lack an educational pathway to play colle...
Legal Options for Sports Kids who Don't Feel Safe
03 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As an attorney, Judie Saunders represents youth athletes in civil court, mediations and arbitrations. Bullying by coaches and physical, verbal and sex...
How do Concussion Rules Affect Kid's Mental Game & Performance?
19 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
New rules and regulations that aim to prevent concussions can teach sports kids to respect their opponents. And they don't undermine mental game skill...
Boosting Sports Kids’ Confidence with Life Skills Lessons
13 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Kids are coming to Skyhawks Sports Academy camps with confidence issues, says Sarah Kelley-Reid, a sports parent and East Coast regional manager of th...
What Mental Game Skills do Recruiters Seek?
14 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Recruiters and college coaches look for a number of mental game skills when they're evaluating athletes, says David Kmiecik, senior recruiting manager...
Helping Perfectionist Sports Kids
31 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Perfectionist sports kids are among the people most likely to seek help from Audrey Grunst, LCSW, a mental performance coach, owner of Simple Bee Coun...
The Benefits of Keeping Score in Youth Sports
17 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Teams can keep score, even when players are young, and the players will still have fun and learn physical and mental game skills. That's the message f...
Baseball: A "Self-Esteem Destroying Sport" for Kids
04 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Baseball can be a "self-esteem destroying sport" for kids because mistakes are a big part of th game, says Josh Thole, former catcher for the New York...
Why Kids Love Pickleball
19 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Pickleball is growing quickly as a youth sport, with many schools offering it for the first time. The sport is easy to learn, doesn't require much equ...
How Stereotypes Hurt Girls in Sports
06 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Stereotypes about girls in sports hurt girls' performance, dreams and confidence, says Donny DeDonatis III, CEO of the United States Specialty Sports ...
Sports Parents: Support, Don't Take Over
16 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What are the habits of supportive sports parents? Sharkie Zartman, a colllege professor, UCLA and USA national team volleyball athlete, author, coach ...
Help Sports Kids Who Lost Confidence During Pandemic
02 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A study by the Aspen Institute and Utah State University--commissioned by TeamSnap--revealed what parents want most from youth sports and how the pand...
Remaking Youth Sports to Build Connection, Confidence
16 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Coming out of the pandemic creates a much-needed opportunity to re-design youth sports in a way that provides kids with more fun and human connection....
Communicating with Sports Kids During Car Rides
02 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Comminicating and connecting with sports kids is an important part of being a sports parent. Harley Rotbart, pediatrician, sports parent and author of...
The Downside of Compliments in Youth Sports
19 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In their efforts to help sports kids develop a growth mindset, parents and coaches should keep in mind that giving too many sweeping compliments can g...
Moving This Podcast, Please Subscribe
30 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We're moving this podcast, please subscribe to this link: https://the-ultimate-sports-parent.libsyn.com/ Soon you'll be able to find our podcast on ...
Teaching Love of Baseball through Sandlots & Creativity
21 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
James Lowe, aka Coach Ballgame, combines his creative skills with his love of baseball to build in sports kids a love of the game. He creates "sandlot...
The Power of a High Five in Youth Sports
08 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
High-fiving young athletes while staying silent is a powerful way to get kids excited about their sport, says Jarrett Robertson, a former pro hockey p...
When Girls & Moms Make Comparisons in Sports
27 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Often, girls and young women compare themselves to their teammates or opponents, which hurts their confidence in sports. Mothers also compare their da...
Help Sports Kids Avoid Freezing Up During Competition
09 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When parents and their young athletes gain some understanding of how the nervous system works, they can better cope with fight, flight and freeze reac...
Should Parents Only Focus on Fun in Youth Sports?
26 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Often, parents focus too much on ensuring their kids are having fun in youth sports, which results in kids dropping out if the experience isn't fun or...
What Hurts Girls’ Confidence in Sports? And Mom's Role?
13 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Body image worries. Fears of excelling and being chosen to lead. These issues undermine girls’ experiences in sports. Girls and young women not only...
Three Activities That Boost Resilience in Sports Kids
29 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Communicating feelings, deep breathing and exercise are just three activities that help boost resilience in sports kids, says Dr. Randall Bell, a form...
Remember: It's the Kids' Journey
07 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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, ...