5 Hacks To Build Confidence for Youth Sports part 1

mentaltoughness...
This is a 3-part series for coaches and parents to assist young athletes with confidence building.

[@mrfacespace]

I found your video interesting. My comment may be somewhat off topic, however it reflects something I was thinking about it. I grew up with a temperamental father who wasn’t able to help me build confidence in myself. I formed a connection with an Uncle who treated me favourably and he was an important person to me. However, his world revolved around sports. I wasn’t very athletic as a child, and I felt inadequate vis a vis sports. Although I was thankful to have someone who treated me well and made up somewhat for what I didn’t get at home, I continued to feel inadequate and unable to achieve the connection with this person. I believe it would have made a difference in my life if he could have told me that while sports are an important part of his world, I’m okay in his books whether I regardless of my athletic abilities. I believe that kids have more opportunities today to find achievements outside sports. Some kids find it - and gain self-esteem and important social skills through computer programming or learning robotics. I’ve been swimming for years. I’m not a decent lap swimmer and I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that this has helped my self-esteem. I wonder if my self-esteem should depend on my level of athletic ability considering what I described above, but being a competent swimmer is meaningful to me. Perhaps it’s a testament to the power of sports, and I should just be happy I’ve achieved this? You understand the dynamics of young athletes and the rewards they receive from being able to participate in athletics. How it contributes to their self-esteem in ways that extend off as well as on the playing field. Out of curiosity, do you think kids who are less athletic have it easier these days to find other activities that provide similar benefits, or do you think that we need to be sensitive or more aware that all kids need to find some acceptable avenue to build self-esteem and competence regardless of their athleticism. As I said, it may be off topic but I invite your thought on this if you want to reply.

[@arcadialasar9026]

I have a six year old that is very passionate about BMXing, hes just been moved up a level in his classes. Last week on the way home he began to tell me how easy everything was, how hes the best in the class and then continued to ask me if hes the best BMXer in the world. I acknowledged that hes doing really well and how proud i am of him... But then i continued to try and get the message of humility across to him and let him know hes not the best in the world. 🙈 How would have you of approached this? Im concerned that his over confidence could cause him to be wreckless. BMXing is already a bit extreme anyways and it makes me quite nervous tbh. Hes already doing foam pits and going down very high ramps. Any advice would be super appreciated. I cant find anything on the net about this.

[@sammleesonja]

Great video! Thank you so much

[@CrowdPleeza]

Something that can complicate a kid's experience with a sport is starting a sport late. Starting a sport late can make that sport more complicated. I'm talking about starting a sport where they're 3 or 4 years behind most other kids their age. By the 3rd or 4th year of a sport it's no longer geared for beginners. The coaches won't be handling that sport as though they're dealing with beginners. If a kid does want to get involved in a sport and they're 3 years behind they need to try to get a few months of preparation from an experienced person before actually starting that sport. So try to get a kid involved in a particular sport when other kids their age tend to start. This will help them to develop in that sport in a more normal way with the other kids.

[@edgebuildingconstructionja5113]

Fantastic

[@Calypsooo]

Thank you ! Rob from Sweden

[@mentaltoughnesstips]

+Calypsooo Thanks for comment Rob

[@kevinmay9745]

Thanks for this, but I did not see the link. Can you please send it to me?

[@HWPO-pt]

Hello ! Good video again. What about a kid that doesn't like to be praised? That doesn't like to hear "you play very well..."? She stays more nervous...

[@mentaltoughnesstips]

+MyVideos Thank you. I would ask the kid why she doesn't like to be praised. Typically, that's an indication of a huge mental block in the category of "fear of success." A kid often doesn't like to be praised because they think that if they receive praise, then they are vulnerable to receiving the opposite of praise, which is disapproval. In that case, it's fear of failure. They are scared to death of disapproval and therefore think that if they can reject the praise, then they will better handle the disapproval. These belief programs can be cleared. That's what I do in my training.

[@mowghlee]

Excellent

[@pittsburghgentlemenpa4758]

What about the step son that dont like to Express himself in the game?

[@ebtv7663]

What if the kid just plan sucks and I don't want to lie to the kid but I don't want to shatter their confidence

[@Born.N.Raised818]

Ok; but my kid is afraid of other kids to get injured. Is this different?

[@anonymousanonymous850]

Hello, I have a question about a kid who always beats themselves up and always believes themselves to be worse then they actually are (which affects there performance). what are some things that can help them get over the road block of insecurity when they know it's there but just can't shake it off. they are actually quite good when they don't freak themselves out. thanks

[@mentaltoughnesstips]

+Madi R Hi Madi. Usually when kids do that to themselves what they are doing is trying to deal with fear of failure. They think that beating themselves up is going to somehow motivate themselves more to try harder or do something more to avoid the failure. They believe things are worse because that sort of softens the blow of failure if it happens... The real solution is to get over the fear of failure through various methods I teach in my programs.

[@anonymousanonymous850]

Mental Toughness Trainer Thank you so much

[@kee-vonnehunda7824]

What if the child is very good at what she does but gets very bad anxiety/panic attacks before races?

[@mentaltoughnesstips]

this is very common and what I primarily deal with. All sorts of help for this at my website: mentaltoughnesstrainer.com/

[@iron60bitch62]

Kee-Vonne Hunda I wanted to be a professional athlete and while I was in high school I would get incredibly nervous before the event I had a person show me how to turn that anxiety into anger and then channel it into my performance it changed my game 100%

[@greedy6931]

@@iron60bitch62 how?

[@joshuamillion9664]

What about a child who has all the ability in training and is seriously talented but can never do a fraction of what he can do in matches.

[@anneweber7029]

“Effort” needs to be defined for you to use it like this

[@charliehall7213]

Dude… You are me cry.

[@joshuamillion9664]

What about a child who has all the ability in training and is seriously talented but can never do a fraction of what he can do in matches.

[@mentaltoughnesstips]

Yes, this is what my entire business and practice is all about. Loads of info at mentaltoughnesstrainer.com/