Psychology of the Young Athlete

Sport psychology not only addresses the mental skill needs of elite athletes; it also makes a significant contribution to the understanding of children in youth sports. In the United States, it is estimated that 45 million children under the age of 18 participate in school and extracurricular physical activity programs. Researchers have found that children on average spend 11 hours weekly in youth sports programs and have seasons that extend for about 18 weeks per year. For most children, sports participation peaks around the age of 12. ...