Dr. Chris Stankovich's Articles – February 2012 Archive (9)

Talking Sports "Politics"

Everybody who has ever competed in sports has heard about sports "politics" - this week I offer some thoughts on the different types of politics that most impact sports parents:…

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Added by Dr. Chris Stankovich on February 29, 2012 at 6:00pm — No Comments

Some Athletically Talented Kids Don't Like Playing Sports

While it might be hard to believe this, but some kids who are really good at sports simply do not enjoy playing sports! This can be especially troubling for parents and coaches, especially when it appears as though the kid has above-average abilities and may actually have a chance at playing colege…

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Added by Dr. Chris Stankovich on February 28, 2012 at 10:44am — No Comments

Athletic Identity & Sports Numbers

Sports are unique for many reasons, including the fact that athletes are often given a number that in some cases becomes their overall identity and persona. This athletic identity can be both good and bad, depending on how pervasive the athletic identity becomes. …

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Added by Dr. Chris Stankovich on February 27, 2012 at 12:11pm — No Comments

The Bragging Sports Parent

We have all been around "that" parent -- the one who talks endlessly about his kid, while paying no attention to the other kids on the team. This week i talk about bragging parents, and offer some better, more humble way for parents to show their pride in their child while also giving praise…

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Added by Dr. Chris Stankovich on February 25, 2012 at 9:02pm — No Comments

Three Fast Facts about Sports Anxiety

If you are a coach then you have likely witnessed your kids get caught up in negative sports anxiety, sometimes limiting them so badly that you cannot believe it's the same athlete that you watch in practice everyday! Today I offer thoughts on three big ways sports anxiety limits otherwise talented players…

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Added by Dr. Chris Stankovich on February 13, 2012 at 10:38am — No Comments

Telling your kids to "practice more" won't neccessarily help their mental toughness

Most young athletes struggle with "mental toughness" (i.e. confidence, focus, resiliency) - yet when they are given tips as to how to improve their mental toughness, the advice given is often of little or no value. In other words, yelling at a kid to "play smarter" isn't very instructional, nor…

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Added by Dr. Chris Stankovich on February 10, 2012 at 3:36pm — No Comments

Five Big Takeaways for Every Family Involved in Youth Sports

As a coach, you already know that many of the families you work with aren't really sure of all the great ways in which their kids can develop through the youth sport experience. Sure, watching their kid become an all star or win a league championship is great, but if that family…

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Added by Dr. Chris Stankovich on February 7, 2012 at 11:00am — No Comments

Do Your Part - Help Kids Use Sports as a Vehicle for LIFE Success

Coaches know better than anyone that the sport experience kids have can be the best primer for life success --- but this parlaying of experience doesn't always happen, and rarely occurs without some adult/coach assistance. What I mean by this is that far too often kids…

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Added by Dr. Chris Stankovich on February 6, 2012 at 2:01pm — No Comments

A Timeless Coaching Philosophy that Guarantees Success

You have probably heard it before, and it makes just as much sense today as it has since it was first said. Coaches who care about their players build better relationships with the kids they coach, resulting in increased motivation and mental toughness. You can read the quote by checking out my…

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Added by Dr. Chris Stankovich on February 3, 2012 at 8:48am — No Comments