Mental Training for Young Athletes with Priya Christopher

Why is mental training important for youth athletes, and how can it contribute to their overall development and performance in sports?

As a sport psychologist, I always say that mental training is crucial for young athletes; more than elite sportspersons. Young athletes are almost continuously going through some transition or the other, as they climb higher and higher in the leagues. Also, they need to face many battles both on and off the field, such as competition, pressure from parents/coaches, injuries and more.

Being young in age, they often cope using the wrong strategies, which can backfire and negatively affect their performance and career. As a result, young athletes need to consult a sport psychologist, at least a couple of times per year, just to gain additional insights and improve their perspectives.

Young athletes train today at intensities that were once reserved for adult athletes. What are some signs that training intensity or structure may be too demanding for young athletes?

Yes, this is truly saddening and inevitable at the same time. I see plenty of stress and burnout in young athletes today. What is worse is that many of them do not have the right guidance at this stage in terms of mental health. Despite all the advancement in sports science and technology over the years, empathy is missing. It is actually seen as a weakness for some, which makes it harder for athletes to even actively seek out help on their own.

Some signs that the athlete is going through a burnout may be obvious, but others are quite covert and hard to notice.

1. Dip in performance: This is obviously quite noticeable, and often the biggest hint that the athlete needs mental support/counseling.
2. Disinterest in the game: This can also include the fitness or training aspects.
3. Physical fatigue: Athletes going burnout also show higher levels of fatigue or lethargy when compared to others, even if they are getting adequate rest. A common observation is that they tend to have poor sleep in terms of quality.
4. Frequent injuries: Young athletes getting injured too often can also be a major red flag that they are going through a tough burnout.
5. Not having fun: After all, their life revolves around play. But, when they are not able to enjoy and have fun in their game, this is a sign that they are going through stress. At the end of the day, happy athletes are the best performing athletes.

How should sport psychologists adapt interventions and psychoeducational programs to match young athletes’ age and developmental level?

Dealing with young athletes is very different than dealing with older and more experienced ones. But as a sport psychologist who works mainly with the younger age group, I would say this is way more satisfying. You make a bigger impact on the overall molding of the athlete’s life and career.

When working with young athletes, the primary aim of a sport psychologist should be education and increasing awareness. Athletes at this age are still not aware of how their mind affects their body and game. They need to understand that their mind can be their best friend or worst enemy. Athletes also need to be given enough coping strategies and mental skillsets to add to their psychological tool-box. These will come in handy throughout their career.

What strategies can coaches use to enhance attention span and focus during sports activities for the age group 6-9 years?

This is a very young and delicate age-group. Coaches can make the child fall in love with the game. But, if mistakes are made, the child may start hating the sport, or may grow up to be a pessimistic athlete.

Before focusing on the attention span and focus of the child, coaches need to create a positive and fun environment of play where everyone is allowed to make mistakes and learn. Coaches will find that younger athletes respond better when the training sessions are shorter and segmented with smaller goals. Also, fun is the key here. Coaches need to be creative enough to keep things interesting and colorful during their sessions.

How does cognitive development progress during ages 10-14, and what implications does this have for young athletes in this age group?

Young athletes in the ages 10-14 years start to actively use their problem-solving skills and understanding skills in their game. Also, their social cognition undergoes plenty of transformation in this game.

The prime motive for this age-group should be to further improve thinking skills, by giving more short-term goals, and metacognitive skills by encouraging better self-awareness. Self-awareness can be a slightly tricky subject here, and sport psychology sessions can be highly helpful. Giving the athlete more room for autonomy over their game and testing out their leadership skills can also tremendously benefit this age-group.

What approach would you take in explaining to adolescents aged 15-18 the benefits of mental training?

This age-group is quite impressionable, and many of them are already following their favorite role-models and players. So, using examples of professional athletes who are outspoken about their mental training can be quite useful here. This is another reason why more and more elite athletes need to openly speak about mental health and psychological support.

Another thing I notice is that teenage athletes are curious and technology-driven. So, biofeedback and real-time data can be beneficial in helping this age-group understand the importance of mental training.

 How does the increasing trend of children spending significant time on their mobile phones affect participation rates in youth sports, physical activity levels, mental well-being, and focus among young athletes, and what consequences it can have for the future of youth sports?

I may sound like a corny millennial, but yes, kids spending too much time on their mobile phones is never a good sign. This is even weightier for kids who want to be future professional athletes. Firstly, spending too much time on mobile phones can take away training time. Secondly, social media currently is aimed at delivering plenty of info in a very short span of time. This is detrimental to attention spans, and can affect the on-field performance of the athlete.

Mobile phone addiction can also mess with the social cognition of the athlete, and this can in turn impact team-work and communication on the field. While mobile phones are definitely not going away any time soon, it is always good to encourage balance and boundaries so that young athletes get the best of both worlds.