| As a sports psychology expert, I often work | | | | When working with students, I teach these |
| very closely with my students parents when I | | | | concepts and help young athletes identify |
| provide one-on-one mental coaching for young | | | | expectations that hurt their performance. |
| athletes. Thats because it helps meand my | | | | |
| students--when parents are knowledgeable | | | | Parents, in their efforts to be supportive, |
| about mental game strategies for young | | | | often say or do things that are interpreted |
| athletes. | | | | by the child as expectations. Lets get back |
| | | | to my golf example. A parent, with good |
| Yes, parents need mental training, too! | | | | intentions, might say, You should be able to |
| | | | shoot even par on this course today you have |
| Parent sometimes can impede my mental | | | | done it before. |
| coaching process, even though they have the | | | | |
| best intentions. | | | | It sounds supportive and seems like the |
| | | | correct thing to say, right? Not from a |
| Parents expectations can pressure young | | | | mental game perspective. Young golfers can |
| athletes. Parents will often impose their own | | | | interpret such statements in surprising ways. |
| expectations on their kids, thinking that | | | | In this case, the child may think he should |
| they are actually boosting their confidence. | | | | shoot even par and if he doesnt, hes letting |
| But often, the opposite is true. | | | | down his parents. |
| | | | |
| When coaching my students in golf, I try to | | | | I knowsounds like a stretch, but this is how |
| help the parents and athletes understand that | | | | the mind of the young athlete works. He |
| strict expectations limit kids performance. | | | | internalizes your high expectations, then |
| They often do this by undermining kids | | | | becomes more conscious about his score for |
| confidence. | | | | the day. He believes he should shoot even par |
| | | | for the day. |
| Confidence leads athletes into the winners | | | | |
| circle. Expectations lead athletes to | | | | This is why parents need mental training too. |
| frustration when they are not performing up | | | | You need to impart the mental game lessons |
| to their self-imposed ideals. | | | | that I teach my students. |
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