Dropout
A) 3-4 out of 10 participants who begin the season dropout before the next season.
- not as good as they wanted to be
- not fun
- want to play something else
- didn’t like the pressure
- bored
- didn’t like the coach
- training was too hard
Youth Sport Considerations
A) 30+ million participate
B) Critical periods
C) Qualified leadership
D) Sport psych interventions can be most effective if learned early in their career
Implications
A) Winning is not the only thing
B) Many reasons for participation
C) Importance of perceived self-competence
Stress and Burnout Effects
A) Critics
-excessive stress
B) Proponents
-teaches kids coping strategies
Too Much Stress?
A) Gould et al. (1991)
B) Simon and Martens (1987)
-most athletes do not experience excessive state anxiety
C) Trait anxiety
-Gould (1993) found that at most, the trait anxiety levels of youth athletes is only slightly higher
What about those who are stressed out?
A) Situational Sources -defeat or victory -event importance -sport type B) Other: -overtraining -high expectations -win at all cost -long practices without variety -excessive time and travel demands -perfectionism
Practical Implications for Dealing With Children
A) Concrete fun and simple strategies B) Vary approaches C) Individualize approach D) Remain positive E) Use role models
Coaching Behavior
A) Smith, Smoll, and Curtis
- Employed more reinforcement and mistake contingent instruction (self-esteem, motivation, and positive attitudes)
- players liked the coaches and their teammates more
- learning a positive approach to coaching results in lower player dropout rates (5% compared to 26% for untrained coaches)
Implications for Practice
- give lots of praise
- catch kids doing things right
- praise sincerely
- realistic expectations
- reward effort
- focus on learning
- modify skills and activities
- modify rules to maximize participation
- reward correct technique
- use the sandwich approach with criticism
- reduce fear of failure
- be enthusiastic
