Unlocking the Secrets to Enhancing Youth Athletes’ Performance
Next time you’re driving your child to a game and notice them glued to their phone, Larissa Mills wants you to consider something important. “The brain requires 22 minutes to refocus,” she informs USA TODAY Sports. “We’ve wasted an inning, a period, or a half due to poor decision-making skills. So, was it worth it? From my perspective, don’t even step onto the ice.”
While we place great emphasis on preparing our kids through rigorous practice and personal training outside of team settings, do we undervalue the significance of nurturing their inner selves?
Mills is the head of the Mental Game Academy based in London, Ontario. Armed with degrees in sociology, psychology, and education, she is also a mother of three who has delved into the mental aspects of numerous athletes, spanning from youth to professional levels in both the United States and Canada. And she has been observing closely.
“Our children spend four to twelve hours on their phones daily,” she remarks. “When are they learning psychological skills? They aren’t, and parents are on their phones for four to nine hours daily. So, when are parents connecting? When are children shaping their self-identity? When are they acquiring coping mechanisms and learning not to lash out in anger?”
“I witnessed a hockey parent exiting the ice and physically attacking two 14-year-old refs and players. Just two weeks ago, a brawl broke out in an arena.”
The Mental Game Academy aids athletes in developing emotional and social awareness while prompting us to recognize the importance of our involvement in this process.
Mills highlights two primary issues: phone usage and the lack of mental skills education by parents.
Having a strong mental game can offer a competitive advantage, regardless of age or athletic level. It can propel individuals to collegiate and professional success and unlock the full potential of younger athletes.
“Kids haven’t changed,” Mills asserts. “We’ve simply lowered our standards. By addressing behavioral issues, we elevate performance levels.”
Mills presents five strategies to help young athletes develop a robust psychological game:
1. ‘Dopamine makes us dopey’:
Establish phone routines to calm the nervous system and boost confidence. Excessive phone usage can release high levels of dopamine and cortisol, leading to reduced confidence and sluggish decision-making.
Mills likens checking your phone before a game to indulging in poutine, a heavy Canadian dish. “It’s akin to feeding your brain negative thoughts or indulging in phone use before a game or practice. You’re damaging your nervous system… The symptoms of phone addiction closely resemble those of anxiety.”
While we can’t completely avoid phone usage, especially as a means of communication with our children, allocate specific times each day to respond to calls and messages. Dedicate at least an hour daily to put away phones and engage with your kids directly.
“Children benefit from being bored and engaging in physical play,” states Mills. “Our brains are not meant to be constantly on technology; they are wired for communication and movement. By relying too heavily on tech, we may hinder their psychological development.”
Coach Steve points out that American kids are lacking in physical activity, receiving a D- grade. To address this issue, it is important to educate young athletes about the negative impact of excessive social media use on their performance.
Mills enforces a rule for her athletes to refrain from using phones two hours prior to games or practices, and one hour before bedtime. She highlights the detrimental effects of social media on performance, explaining how it can lead to self-comparison, negative emotions, and decreased confidence.
Athletes have reported improved training and social interactions when limiting phone usage to less than two hours a day. This change not only enhances cognitive processing but also boosts confidence, aggression, and fearlessness, ultimately improving overall performance.
Encouraging effective self-talk and the use of personal mantras can further enhance mental strength and confidence during sports activities. By blocking out negative influences and staying focused on positive affirmations, athletes can elevate their performance and avoid distractions.
It is crucial for athletes to combat negative self-talk and external pressures, including those from parents and peers. By reinforcing positive self-affirmations and maintaining mental resilience, athletes can prevent outside influences from affecting their performance.
In conclusion, a balanced approach to technology use, coupled with positive self-talk and mental resilience, can greatly benefit young athletes in achieving their full potential and improving their overall performance.
It is important to remember that others do not have the right to judge you. The only feedback that truly matters comes from yourself and your coach. Mills and her associates have found that about 60% of young athletes they work with report negative impacts from their parents on their sports performance. Parental coaching from the sidelines can hinder a child’s experience and performance. Instead of criticizing, parents should focus on building their child’s confidence.
Mills specializes in helping individuals who have spent excessive hours on their phones reconnect with real-world interactions and improve their attention spans. She emphasizes the importance of accepting feedback and criticism positively, rather than seeing it as yelling. Coaches face challenges in disciplining players due to societal changes.
Establishing a phone regimen for children is a crucial first step in addressing this issue. Encouraging real-time communication, constructive conversations with teammates, opponents, and referees, and accepting feedback from coaches are all essential aspects of youth sports development. Developing mental strength and focusing on team dynamics can lead to better performance both on and off the field.
As Mills stresses, maintaining composure and self-control not only benefits the team but also sets personal boundaries that are valuable throughout life. Encouraging youths to be respectful, courteous, and resilient leaders is a key message in her coaching philosophy. Coach Steve, a USA TODAY editor and sports parent, emphasizes the importance of developing steadfast and respectful young athletes, echoing Mills’ teachings.
Do you have a burning question you want answered in a column? Email him at sborelli@usatoday.com. This article was originally published on USA TODAY: Youth sports: 5 ways to enhance athletes’ ‘mental game’.
