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17 Ways to Be a Better Sports Parent By MOJO Sport Source : https://mojo.sport/coachs-corner/sports-parent-resolutions/ I will not follow up positive comments to my kids with things they need to work on; in sports, in school, and in life. I will save my “BUT” statements for independent conversations and only when they are truly necessary. I will keep […]

Why Is My Child Losing Interest In Sports? By MOJO Sport Source : https://mojo.sport/coachs-corner/why-is-my-child-losing-interest-in-sports/ As parents, it’s hard to sit back and watch as your once sports-crazed kid slowly – or suddenly – decides they are no longer interested in sports. One day, they can’t wait to go to practice; they won’t stop dribbling the

12 Tips for Talking to Your Athlete About Mental Health By MOJO Sport Source : https://mojo.sport/coachs-corner/12-tips-for-talking-to-your-athlete-about-mental-health/ Sports, especially at a competitive level, can add another layer of stress to the lives of teens. There’s balancing the time commitment between school and sports, as well as the pressure, disappointment, and social scrutiny that can come with

9 Safety Tips To Ensure Emotional and Physical Safety of Players By MOJO Sport Source : https://mojo.sport/coachs-corner/9-safety-tips-to-ensure-emotional-and-physical-safety-of-players/ Players should feel comfortable, cared for, and protected. These tips will help you keep them safe:   Logistical Tips Use a formal sign-in and sign-out system. Check with your supervisor to learn how to keep record of youth attendance.

9 Signs Your Child Has Sports Burnout By MOJO Sport Source : https://mojo.sport/coachs-corner/9-signs-your-child-has-sports-burnout/ A new study from the American Academy of Pediatrics confirms the alarming statistic that 70% of kids quit youth sports by age 13. There are several reasons why this number is so high and many of them are very normal; puberty and a

8 Ways to Help Calm Anxious Young Athletes By MOJO Sport Source : https://mojo.sport/coachs-corner/8-ways-to-help-calm-anxious-young-athletes/ It’s not uncommon for some of the best athletes in the world to get so nervous and anxious before a game or performance that they can barely function. In fact, as a sports psychologist, the most common reason athletes work with

3 Things to Do When You Notice Bullying By MOJO Sport Source : https://mojo.sport/coachs-corner/3-things-to-do-when-you-notice-bullying/ Playing sports and being part of a team is a valuable childhood experience. However, negative behaviors like bullying can shift the team dynamic and have serious, long-lasting consequences for the athlete being targeted.   By understanding what bullying is—and what you

How to Help Young Athletes Be Self-Motivated By Kids’ Sports Psychology Source : https://www.kidssportspsychology.com/how-to-help-young-athletes-be-self-motivated/ What to do When Your Athletes Isn’t Self-Motivated   Sports parents often face the dilemma of how to motivate their children. Should sports parents have to motive children to participate? Or should sports kids be purely self-motivated?   What is self-motivation? Kids who are

Mental Health Awareness for Youth Athletes By National Sports ID Source : https://www.nationalsportsid.com/mental-health-awareness-for-youth-athletes/ The goal of elite sport is to get the best possible results. Every new generation of sportsmen strives to propel themselves to greater levels and break records made by their ancestors. But what effect does this continual barrage of stress and anticipation

A Mental Game Formula for Success in Sports By Kids’ Sports Psychology Source : https://www.kidssportspsychology.com/a-mental-game-formula-for-success-in-sports/ Is a Success Formula Necessary?   A success formula is like a recipe or set of instructions describing how to successfully and consistently create something. For example, if your young athlete’s goal is to prepare at an elite level, what do they

The Four Fs of Youth Sports for Parents By MOJO Source : https://mojo.sport/coachs-corner/the-four-fs-of-youth-sports-for-parents/ Youth sports can be all-consuming for parents. But Kirsten Jones — co-host of the #raisingathletes podcast, youth volleyball coach and former Division I volleyball player — says that for kids 13 and under, you can’t go wrong if you focus on what she

6 Signs Your Kid Should Quit a Sport By Greenlight Source : https://greenlight.com/learning-center/parenting-and-family/6-signs-your-kid-should-quit-a-sport So, your child wants to quit. It’s a quandary many parents face: We want to teach kids the value of sticking to their word, perseverance, and how hard work can pay off. On the other hand, it’s also important to learn that

How Self-Talk Boosts Athletes’ Confidence By Kids’ Sports Psychology Source : https://www.kidssportspsychology.com/how-self-talk-boosts-athletes-confidence/ How Self-Talk Will Change Your Game   Sports kids can determine if self-talk influences their performance by thinking of competitions when they fell apart. What were their thoughts before spiraling downward? Did they mentally beat themselves up over a mistake or tell themselves they

Are We Pushing Our Kids Too Hard In Youth Sports? By MOJO Source : https://mojo.sport/coachs-corner/are-we-pushing-our-kids-too-hard-in-youth-sports/ Stanford graduate Tyrell Terry retired from professional basketball after just two seasons. He shared the news in an Instagram post that he has since taken down. Sports writer Julie Kliegman detailed the once-promising athlete’s near-crippling anxiety in a recent Sports Illustrated article.

7 Signs You Probably Shouldn’t Coach Your Kid at Sports By Calgary’s Child Source : https://www.calgaryschild.com/class-program/sports-fitness/3179-7-signs-you-probably-shouldn-t-coach-your-kid-at-sports-2 You signed your child up for soccer or hockey, and then the league sent you an email: ‘We need coaches!’ Maybe you had never coached kids’ sports before, and you thought it might be fun to coach. Maybe your

Great Athletes Have a Humble Heart By Changing the Game Project Source : https://changingthegameproject.com/great-athletes-have-a-humble-heart/ Do not boast overly. Keep the jade and treasures reserved within the bosom. A posture of a humble heart will bring blessings from all directions. —Lao-Tzu, Tao Te Ching   As long as you don’t have entitlement in your program, you’ve

Nicol David The Secret Behind Being Squash World No. 1 for 108 Months By Olympic Games Source : https://olympics.com/en/news/nicol-david-exclusive-malaysia-secret-squash-records-olympics Growing up, Nicol David was one of only three girls who played squash in the Malaysian state of Penang. The other two were her sisters. That the siblings were sporty was no surprise. Their father was

How Sports Kids’ Expectations can Become Pressure By Kids’ Sports Psychology Source : https://www.kidssportspsychology.com/how-sports-kids-expectations-can-become-pressure/ Pressure is part of sports for young athletes.   In fact, you would be hard pressed to find athletes who say they haven’t experienced some pressure. As sports kids become more competitive, pressure seems to increase and, for many athletes, that can

Gavin Green ‘Huge privilege and honour to represent Malaysia’ at Paris Olympics By Gavin Green (International Golf Federation) Source : https://www.igfgolf.org/news/2024/07/15/gavin-green-blog-paris-2024-olympics Editor’s note: In the latest in series of first-person columns from DP World Tour members set to compete at the 2024 Olympic Games, Malaysia’s Gavin Green looks ahead to testing his game against the

3 Myths that are Destroying the Youth Sports Experience for our Kids By Changing the Game Project Source : https://changingthegameproject.com/3-myths-that-are-destroying-the-youth-sports-experience-for-our-kids/ Every year, I travel throughout the US, Canada, Asia and Europe, and give well over 100 presentations to parents and coaches. I speak to tens of thousands of people about youth sports, coaching, and athlete

Is it Wise to Specialize? By Changing the Game Project Source : https://changingthegameproject.com/is-it-wise-to-specialize/ The greatest difference between our children’s sporting experience and our own is the rise of year round, sport specific organizations that ask – even require – season after season of participation in order to stay in the player development pipeline. The pressure

The 4 Biggest Problems in Youth Sports Today By Changing the Game Project Source : https://changingthegameproject.com/4-the-biggest-problems-in-youth-sports-today/ When you run an organization such as the Changing the Game Project, you hear many youth sports stories from parents, coaches, and players. Some stories are absolutely heartbreaking, others inspiring.   Recently I encountered the absurd.   Many of

Why Kids Quit Sports By Changing the Game Project Source : https://changingthegameproject.com/why-kids-quit-sports/ “I just can’t take it anymore coach,” a talented but underperforming player named Kate told me a few years back. “I think I am done playing.”   My mind went through all the reasons this might be happening: burnout, other interests, team dynamics,

The Race to Nowhere in Youth Sports By Changing the Game Project Source : https://changingthegameproject.com/the-race-to-nowhere-in-youth-sports/ “My 4th grader tried to play basketball and soccer last year,” a mom recently told me as we sat around the dinner table after one of my speaking engagements. “It was a nightmare. My son kept getting yelled at by

The Tipping Point in Youth Sports 2024 By Changing the Game Project Source : https://changingthegameproject.com/the-tipping-point-in-youth-sports-2024/ The other day I had a conversation with a therapist and youth sports advocate who is doing some great work in building greater connection between coaches, athletes and parents. Our conversation led us to discuss why so many kids that

Do You Work Hard, or Do You COMPETE? By Changing the Game Project Source : https://changingthegameproject.com/do-you-work-hard-or-do-you-compete/ “But coach, I am working hard out there,” many of us have heard often as a coach.   “Yes Dad/Mom, I am trying my best” sounds familiar to many a parent.   We all want our athletes to work

The Importance of Sports Diversification in Young Athletes By Cincinnati Children’s Blog Source : https://blog.cincinnatichildrens.org/healthy-living/fitness-and-nutrition/importance-sports-diversification-young-athletes/ As a sports medicine physician, kids tell me nearly every day that they want to be a professional athlete when they grow up. While it’s fun to dream, the reality is that the chances are pretty slim. The NCAA lists the probability of

Winning Vs Fulfillment How Society Teaches Us to Focus on the Wrong Things in Youth Sports By Changing The Game Project Source : https://changingthegameproject.com/winning-vs-fulfillment-how-society-teaches-us-to-focus-on-the-wrong-things-in-youth-sports/ I recently spent a few days with some NCAA Division I programs I have worked with the past couple of years. Both programs have been very successful on the field, winning

Hyper Hydration in Young Athletes By Children’s Hospital Colorado Source : https://www.childrenscolorado.org/conditions-and-advice/sports-articles/sports-safety/hyper-hydration-in-young-athletes/ Hydration, along with proper nutrition and sleep, is a key component to ensure athletes perform their best. But can athletes over-hydrate? In short, yes. Drinking too much fluid before, during or after an activity can cause a state of hyper hydration, which can lead

What Makes A Great Youth Sports Parent? By Beginners Edge Sports Training Source : https://thebestinaz.com/what-makes-a-great-youth-sports-parent/ First off, let me start by saying, I am always being asked, “How do you do it?” “How do you have such patience with the kids?” “How do you put up with family watching the game all the crazy moms

Youth Sports is a Journey (And We Have Lots to Be Grateful For) By Changing the Game Project Source : https://changingthegameproject.com/youth-sports-is-a-journey/ – John O’Sullivan This week I wanted to share with you some thoughts I recently sent to my local youth soccer club. I wrote these as I was working in the Middle East, visiting

How to Recognize Depression and Anxiety in Young Athletes and How to Help By American Psychiatric Association Source : https://www.psychiatry.org/News-room/APA-Blogs/Depression-and-Anxiety-in-Young-Athletes Youth sports can be an incredibly rewarding experience for kids, teaching them valuable life skills such as teamwork, resilience, and hard work. However, youth athletes also can struggle with anxiety and depression. As a parent,

6 Ways to Support Young Athletes While Boosting Their Mental Health By Health Partners Source : https://www.healthpartners.com/blog/ways-to-support-young-athletes-and-boost-mental-health/ When it comes to keeping our kids healthy, sports offer the best of all worlds. The physical benefits go without saying, but that’s hardly where the positive impact ends. Sports offer tremendous mental and emotional benefits, too. If

Confidence CANNOT be Given, it Has to be EARNED! By Changing the Game Project Source : https://changingthegameproject.com/confidence-cannot-be-given-it-has-to-be-earned/ Don’t we all wish our children were more confident? Don’t we wish there was a magic confidence pill, or some special words that we could say to our children that would have them step into the arena bursting

5 Top Ways to Get Your Children into Golf Golf.com Source : https://golf.com/instruction/5-top-ways-to-get-your-children-into-golf/?amp=1 Golf is a game that can be played for a lifetime, and along with learning a skill that requires hand-eye coordination, it is a game that can help build confidence and important social skills, along with relationships. As someone who got into

Getting Better vs. Getting Seen: The Conundrum That Derails Many Promising Young Athletes By Changing the Game Project Source : https://changingthegameproject.com/getting-better-vs-getting-seen-the-conundrum-that-derails-many-promising-young-athletes/ “Thanks Coach, we had an amazing time in this program, but you just don’t do enough showcases and we are going to miss getting seen by college coaches. We will be joining Club X.”

Confidence is a Feeling, Competence is a Behavior By Changing the Game Project Source : https://changingthegameproject.com/confidence-is-a-feeling-competence-is-a-behavior/ We have all seen the interview many times. The star athlete comes off the field or court, and the first question the interviewer asks is “You were looking really confident out there today, what was your secret?” We might

Why You Should Lace Up and Go For a Jog By The Sporting Blog Source : https://thesporting.blog/blog/2017/10/8/some-basic-benefits-of-running Running Strengthens Muscles Well, any exercise that repeatedly breaks down muscle fibres will do this IF combined with a good diet. Without the good diet and a decent amount of protein the muscle will not repair properly and

What Is Meal Prepping and Why You Should Try It By Thomas Brown Source : https://theathleteblog.com/what-is-meal-prepping-tips-for-beginners/ Meal prepping is a real game-changer when it comes to leading a healthy lifestyle. It allows you to cook all your meals in advance and have them ready to go whenever you need them. This means that you’ll never

The Diaphragm Paradox By Richard Ulm Source : https://www.athlete-enhancement.com/post/the-diaphragm-paradox Ever wonder why you drop to the ground after a hard workout? First and foremost, it lowers the load on your heart improving its ability to circulate blood and oxygen to the body. But there is another reason of which you may not have thought; it

5 Golf Psychology Tips To Improve Your Mental Toughness By Dwane Rodgers Source : https://www.academia.edu/38659239/Golf_Psychology_Tips_To_Improve_Your_Mental_Toughness?email_work_card=abstract-read-more Popular amateur Bobby Jones once said, “Golf is played mainly on five-and-a-half-inch course… the space between your ears.” Golf is no doubt, one of the most mentally challenging sports there is. One just can’t pick best golf iron and hit

7 Powerful Ways to Improve Athletic Performance By Matthew Roda – October 30, 2019 Source : https://reflexion.co/blog/improve-athletic-performance/ Improving athletic performance is easier than it’s ever been. With recent innovations in technology and training methodology, athletes are doing things we never thought were possible.  But if you’re trying to improve your athletic performance (or do so