Hey, everyone! It's Natalie, your fear managing expert, here to provide some guidance to parents of athlete's who are mentally stuck or experiencing a block in their sport. Continue reading to learn tangible tools to being your athlete's ally.
As the parent of an athlete, you know that performing to the best of their ability requires not only physical strength and skill, but also mental toughness. Unfortunately, mental blocks can affect even the most talented athletes, hindering their performance and causing frustration and disappointment. But as a parent, there are steps you can take to support your child in managing these mental blocks and getting back on track.
In this blog post, we’ll explore some practical strategies that parents can use to help their young athletes overcome mental obstacles and achieve their full potential.Â
Tip #1 - Encourage Open Communication
This tip probably seems the most obvious, but it is truly the first step to all other steps. Managing fear is a team effort. When athlete's bottle up their emotions and struggles with fear or blocks, they will often times remain stuck and overwhelmed not sure the direction to take. Encouraging communication may help your athlete speak up and ask for guidance. But I am sure you're thinking, "I have told my child that they can talk to me about anything, but when I ask how their practice was I only get a one word response". Most athlete's are embarrassed they are struggling or stuck. They may even think they are letting you down if they are not performing.
My tip if you notice your child does not open up easily, be vulnerable with them first. Share a time you were really scared or experienced something similar in your sport. When they can relate and learn that they aren't alone and fear is totally normal, they may begin to share their experiences with you, and you will be able to problem solve together!
Tip #2 - Focus on the Process, not the Outcome
In sport we often times think of the outcome, how well we are going to place, and put a lot of pressure to be perfect all the time. Always focusing on the future can lead to mental blocks due to the high demand of success all the time. High demand of success usually leads to increase pressure for skills the athlete may already perform with ease, leading to overthinking or language such as "I can't mess up" , "I have to be perfect" , or "I better not bail on this". This type of language elicit an anxious or nervous response in the body, alerting our fear response, either fight, flight, or freeze. If your athlete is experiencing mental blocks, they are probably experiencing a freeze fear response.
Therefore, if we can focus on present moment controllables such as positive self-talk, skill progression, and stress-management, your athlete will be in good shape!
"Thinking will not overcome fear, but action will" - W. Clement Stone
Tip #3 - Provide Positive Reinforcement
Acknowledging your child's progress is an important step in helping them develop a positive mindset towards their athletic abilities. By recognizing and rewarding their progress, it provides them with a sense of accomplishment and motivates them to continue improving. It also helps them develop a growth mindset, where they view mistakes as opportunities to learn and grow, rather than setbacks. This can lead to increased confidence in their abilities and a greater willingness to take on new challenges. By supporting their progress and celebrating their achievements, you can help your child become a more confident and resilient athlete who is ready to perform at their best.
Tip #4 - Seek Out Professional Help
As a former gymnast who struggled tirelessly with mental blocks, spent hours on beam not going for my series, but eventually sought out professional help and managed my fears, I know a thing or two about what works and what doesn't work. If you have tried the three tips above and your child is still struggling and not improving, it may be time to contact us. I have worked with 100s of athletes on managing fears and have watched them return to their sport feeling confident and accomplished. Fear management is challenging, but never impossible. If your athlete is struggling with the "twisties" the "yips" or any other mental block, reach out and schedule an initial consultation to get a jump start on their mental training!
Remember, Not All Athletes Are the Same
Every child is different and may require different strategies to manage their fears. Be patient, supportive, and open-minded as you work with your child to help them overcome their fears in sports. If your athlete needs more help managing their fears visit HERE to book an initial consultation.
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