Why are kids so fearless? Kids play in the present moment. They have no fear of consequences. No fear of failure. No fear of injury. This is also the reason parents need to observe them! Why are adults – and some athletes – filled with fear? Most athletes fear negative consequences of their performance. They worry about the what ifs: “what if I fail?.” Adults simply don’t play in the moment like kids do.
When you worry too much about what others think or the outcome of your performance, you are not performing in the present moment and fear will paralyze you. Fear of failure is one of the biggest obstacles for athletes. It comes in many forms such as the fear of embarrassment, fear of not winning, fear of what others think or may say, fear of losing close friends if you are too successful (fear of success), and many other fears.
Check out The Ultimate Sports Parent website for more sports parenting tips.