When sports kids start calling themselves “losers,” “chokers,” “wimps” or other negative names, it’s a bad sign. Young athletes who label themselves with these negative terms are hurting their confidence. They’ve got a little voice in their head that’s constantly putting them down.
Too often, however, kids fall into this trap—especially if there’s a big focus on winning. If they’re on a losing team, for example, they’re likely to call themselves “losers.” Ask your kids to write down three positive labels that describe their efforts in sports. These could be “I’m a great team player,” “I know how to nab those rebounds,” or “I’m quick on my feet.” Tell your kids to use these labels as often as possible—even when they’re talking to other kids or parents.
Check out The Ultimate Sports Parent workbook for more sports parenting tips.