Mental Development for Young Athletes

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When performance depends on more than training

They perform well in training, but nerves overwhelm them in competition. After making a mistake, they cannot get back into the game. They struggle with failure, lose motivation or feel apprehensive about returning to sport after an injury.

A young person’s sporting performance is influenced by more than physical preparation. Mental resilience, self-confidence, the ability to concentrate and the ability to work with emotions all play an important role.

The Mental Development for Young Athletes programme helps children and adolescents understand their own experiences better and develop skills they can use in training, competition and everyday life.

Learn more about psychological care at MY CLINIC

Who is the programme for?

The programme is designed for children and adolescents involved in competitive sport. It may be particularly suitable when a young athlete:

Struggles with nerves or pressure before a competition
Performs differently in competition than in training
Finds it difficult to cope with mistakes, criticism or failure
Is going through a period of stagnation or fluctuating performance
Is losing motivation or enjoyment of sport
Is returning to sport after an injury or illness
Wants to improve concentration, self-confidence and mental resilience
Needs to find a healthy balance between performance and recovery

The aim is not to place additional pressure on performance. The programme helps young athletes manage challenging situations and develop mental skills that are important in both sport and life.

More than conventional mental training

The MY CLINIC programme is based on a personalised, comprehensive psychological approach. It is not limited to motivational or relaxation techniques.

Depending on the individual athlete’s needs, it may include:

Assessment of emotional experiences, motivation and responses to stress
Work with pre-competition and starting-line states
Managing emotions, frustration, mistakes and failure
Developing self-reflection and healthy self-confidence
Standardised psychological methods
Assessment of selected cognitive functions
A personalised mental training plan
Support for recovery and a healthy lifestyle
Consultations and practical guidance for parents

The choice of methods is always tailored to the young person’s age, needs, current situation, goals and sporting discipline.

Cognitive assessment and mental training

Depending on individual needs, the programme may include an assessment of abilities important for a particular sporting discipline:

Working memory
Selective attention and concentration
Perceptual speed
Reaction speed
Anticipation
Decision-making under pressure

The results may be followed by a personalised mental training plan focused on developing selected abilities.

Support for parents of young athletes

Parents have a major influence on how a child experiences success, failure and the pressures associated with sport. However, it is not always easy to know when to encourage a child, when to give them space, and how to communicate after a disappointing performance.

The programme may therefore include practical guidance on:

Supporting a child’s healthy motivation
Communicating after both success and failure
Managing expectations and performance pressure
Recognising possible signs of overload or overtraining
Creating an environment that supports both performance and healthy mental development

The aim is not to judge parenting, but to work together to find support that matches the needs of the individual child.

Mental Development for Young Athletes

NEW MY CLINIC PROGRAMME

When performance depends on more than training

Who is the programme for?

More than conventional mental training

Cognitive assessment and mental training

Support for parents of young athletes

How does the programme work?

1. Initial consultation

2. Follow-up programme

3. Further personalised support

Programme clinical lead

Support not only your child’s performance, but also their mental resilience