As parents, you hate to see your children disappointed. They are sad, downtrodden, and seem to have the weight of their lives on their shoulders. Your hearts ache for their pain and you want to do everything you can to relieve them of that disappointment. But that would be a mistake! Certainly, disappointment is not [...]
The tough question that every athlete asks is: How do I perform my best when it matters most. Especially for young athletes who are still developing, it is essential for you to continue your technical and tactical development because without it. At the same time, on game day, I believe that too much thinking about [...]
I was recently interviewed about the psychology of sports injury on Neil deGrasse Tyson's StarTalk Radio. My interview begins at 26:10 of the recording.
I’ve been thinking a lot about how important real commitment is to athletic success and how sports teams can measure commitment in athletes. Just about every so-called serious athlete is pretty committed to their sport, but are you REALLY committed? I could ask you to rate yourself on a 1-10 scale. I could also ask [...]
I get several phone and emails a week from parents of athletes who tell me that their young athlete is struggling and it seems to be “mental.” I then ask for more details about what kinds of specific difficulties their kids are having and they have a tough times explaining further. The most common response [...]
I'm excited to announce the publication of my latest parenting book, Raising Young Athletes: Parenting Your Children to Victory in Sports and Life. Here's what the book is about: Sports are an amazing environment in which to raise children. The benefits they gain from athletic participation are many including physical (e.g., health, fitness, mastery), personal (e.g., passion, [...]
With the fall sports season underway, now is a great time for athletes to get their minds in great shape, coaches to sharpen their skills, and parents to be the best they can be as we all prepare for competitive that lies ahead. Good news; I can help! I’m pleased to announce the launch of [...]
My two daughters are officially ski racers. They’ve been on the Sugar Bowl Ski Team for seven years now, skied twice this summer, and will attend winter term at Sugar Bowl Academy this coming season. Because of this burgeoning involvement in our sport, I’m often asked by other parents why they ski race and why [...]
It happens every competitive season. I get calls from and their parents who are struggling mentally in their sport and they have big events coming up. They want me to somehow fix them quickly. Though I think I’m pretty good at what I do, I’m no miracle worker. To put the request in perspective, do [...]
Every sport has a competitive season that ends. For winter sports, it’s recently concluded and for spring sports, it is rapidly approaching. After a long and demanding season, you’re probably tired of your sport (regardless of whether the season was a triumph or a disappointment). It’s time to pack away your gear, kick back, relax, [...]
