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DIY Growth Toolkit for Young Athletes: A Parent's Guide

DIY Growth Toolkit for Young Athletes: A Parent's Guide

Parents of student-athletes often find themselves navigating a complex world of training schedules, competitions, and developmental milestones without a roadmap. This guide introduces a simple but powerful approach to supporting your child's sports journey: a flexible, personalized toolkit that grows and changes with your child's unique

The Prevention-First Framework: Why Mental Skills Assessment is Critical for Young Athletes

The Prevention-First Framework: Why Mental Skills Assessment is Critical for Young Athletes

Youth sports are at a crossroads. While the physical demands on young athletes continue to intensify, their mental well-being often takes a backseat until problems emerge. This reactive approach is failing our athletes, but there's a better way forward - one that starts with understanding where your athlete

Turning Excuses Into Fuel: An Unconventional Approach to Mental Performance

Turning Excuses Into Fuel: An Unconventional Approach to Mental Performance

Every athlete faces that moment - when excuses threaten their goals. Whether it's pre-game anxiety, physical fatigue, or lack of motivation, these mental barriers feel insurmountable. But what if those excuses could become your secret weapon We're excited to share this unconventional insight from mental performance

The Secret Behind Elite Athletes: It's Not Mental Toughness

The Secret Behind Elite Athletes: It's Not Mental Toughness

Ever wonder why some elite athletes thrive under pressure while others crumble? The secret might not be what you think. It's not about being mentally tough, but something sports psychologists call "psychological flexibility." Sport performance psychologist and mental game expert, Alex Auerbach, shares insights into how

The Science of Clutch Performance: Why Some Athletes Excel Under Pressure (And How You Can Too)

The Science of Clutch Performance: Why Some Athletes Excel Under Pressure (And How You Can Too)

What separates athletes who thrive under pressure from those who crumble? It's not just talent or practice – it's a specific set of mental skills that can be developed. This article explores a groundbreaking approach to pressure performance in sports, drawing from Dr. Alex Auerbach's

Understanding Slow Starts: Ignite Team Performance from the First Whistle

Understanding Slow Starts: Ignite Team Performance from the First Whistle

As a youth coach, you've probably experienced the frustration of watching your team start a game slowly. Let's explore why this happens and how you can help your young athletes perform well from the first whistle. Understanding the Slow Start Syndrome Picture this: Your team steps

From Stress to Success: The Reset Button Technique for Young Athletes

sport psychology

From Stress to Success: The Reset Button Technique for Young Athletes

This piece first appeared in SportPsychMike, Mike Mata's newsletter on Substack. There is a world where we work very hard and we make the time to reset. — Having a ‘reset button’ creates a space to be curious. It enables you to take an inventory of things at that

Mindset Matters: The Key to Student Athlete Success

sport psychology

Mindset Matters: The Key to Student Athlete Success

For student-athletes, understanding and developing the right mindset can be crucial for success both in sports and academics. Defining Mindset A mindset is a set of beliefs that guide our perceptions, and subsequently, our actions. These beliefs are internalized from several sources, like: * Peers * Media * Parents * School and Youth Club

Called to Greatness by Dr. Alex Auerbach

sport psychology

Book Excerpt: Called to Greatness

This is an excerpt from my upcoming book, Called to Greatness. Welcome to your handbook on high performance. This book is my endeavor to synthesize two parts of the human experience which have both fascinated me and informed my performance coaching philosophy: what allows humans to perform at their best

What's In Your Head: The Cognitive Demands of Elite Athletes

What's In Your Head: The Cognitive Demands of Elite Athletes

When you think of elite athletes, you picture muscles, quick reflexes, and endurance, right? But there's more happening in their brains. Research shows brain activity is as crucial as physical skills. From quick decisions to pain endurance, the mental side of sports is vital. We'll dive

Beyond Physical Prowess: The Power of Mental Adaptability in Athletics

Beyond Physical Prowess: The Power of Mental Adaptability in Athletics

In the high-stakes world of competitive sports, physical prowess is just the beginning. The true game-changer? Psychological adaptability. In the competitive world of sports, physical talent is just the entry ticket. The real game-changer? Psychological adaptability. I've seen it countless times: physically gifted athletes crumbling under pressure, while

How Student Athletes Can Overcome Choking in Big Moments

How Student Athletes Can Overcome Choking in Big Moments

Ever watched a crucial penalty kick in a World Cup match and felt your heart racing? You're not alone. Those high-stakes moments in sports can be nerve-wracking for everyone involved, especially the athletes. Let's dive into the psychology behind choking under pressure and how you can

A Player’s Path to Athletic Excellence: Embracing the Monotony

A Player’s Path to Athletic Excellence: Embracing the Monotony

Imagine this: You're a high school athlete, passionate about your sport, and you dream of reaching the top. You see the glitz and glamour of professional sports on TV, the high-intensity performances, the world's best athletes. But what you don't see is the monotony

Unveiling the Secrets of Super Champions: What Sets Them Apart?

Unveiling the Secrets of Super Champions: What Sets Them Apart?

Imagine this: The year is 1992. The Olympics are on the horizon. Two decathletes, Dan O'Brien and Dave Johnson, are the faces of track and field. They've competed against each other in world championships, each having their moments of victory. Their rivalry breathes new life into

Unlocking the Mental Game: Insights from 400 Mettle Performance Assessments

Unlocking the Mental Game: Insights from 400 Mettle Performance Assessments

After nearly 400 Mettle Performance assessments, we have a valuable snapshot of the mental strengths and areas for improvement among young athletes. These insights are crucial for you, as a coach, aiming to develop not just skilled athletes, but well-rounded individuals. First, The Scores Here are the average scores after

boys-track-and-field

The Student Athlete's Lexicon: Key Terms in Sport Psychology and Mental Performance

Welcome to the world of sport performance psychology, where the mental aspects of athletic excellence are just as crucial as physical prowess. This glossary is designed to help student athletes, coaches, and enthusiasts become more fluent in the language of the mind game. Understanding these terms is the first step

Embrace the Grind: Transforming Monotony into Motivation | For Youth Coaches

Embrace the Grind: Transforming Monotony into Motivation | For Youth Coaches

Hey there, coach. Let's talk about something that doesn't make the highlight reels but is crucial to your team's success: the daily grind. You know, those repetitive drills and practices that can feel like Groundhog Day for your athletes. It's not the

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