How to Deal with Physical Insecurities as a Young Athlete
By working with David Charlton, you and your organisation will be better equipped to rise to modern day challenges and better informed to thrive on and off the pitch, course or court. Where he inspires individuals and teams to:
- Cope with pressure and challenges more effectively
- Maintain positive mental health
- Compete with confidence more often
- Manage your emotions better
- Improve your commitments levels
David is a Mental Toughness Practitioner, as well as a Health Care and Professions Council (HCPC) Registered Sport and Exercise Psychologist. He has successfully supported athletes, teams and organisations for over 10 years in order to ensure that they perform at their maximum more often.
He has a comprehensive knowledge around the development of Mental Toughness, a plastic personality trait, which determines or limits people to deal effectively with change, challenges and stressors. In today’s climate, during the Coronavirus pandemic this quality is becoming more and more valuable to individuals, teams and organisations.
In this solo episode, I discuss a challenge that many young athletes often come across and something that we get approached by parents and the athlete themselves about on a regular basis. Dealing with physical insecurities. I go on to share some exercises, that I often use citing a case study of Harry (pseudonym) the goalkeeper who was small for his position, which impacted his focus and confidence.
Key Learning Points
- By helping shift an athletes focus towards internal factors that he or she can control can help them feel less helpless.
- Examining an athletes expectations of small details in their sport can help you shift their perspective.
- Setting mini-goals between sessions is a great way to strengthen an athletes confidence and motivation levels.
- Spending time assessing an athlete’s strengths and planning how to improve specific areas can be a great confidence builder.
- Relationships and the way athletes communicate with coaches is important and vice versa, can have a significant impact on how an athlete feels.
- Using metaphors such as an animal or a superhero in a visual way can enhance confidence.
Connect with David Charlton
Download THE FOCUSED ATHLETE CHECKLIST
Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub
Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn
Relevant Podcast Episodes
Ep039: John Fletcher – How to Develop Fearless Athletes
Ep49: James Maurice – How Does Sport Psychology in Elite Football Academies Help
Ep064: Edu Rubio – How to Support Young Footballers
Ep081: Stuart Wade – Mental Toughness in Combat Sports
Ep111: Michael Caulfield – How to be an Effective Sports Psychologist in Elite Professional Football
Relevant Blogs and Resources
Case Study: Supporting a Young Footballer to Overcome His Fears
Blog: How to Help Children Overcome Fear of Failure
Blog: How do I Help my Child to Focus in Sports?
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Best Wishes
David Charlton
Online Goalkeeping Psychologist who supports goalkeepers with their mental game all around the world from USA to Ireland and England to Australia, using ONLINE Video Conferencing.
Managing Director – Inspiring Sporting Excellence, Host of Demystifying Mental Toughness Podcast and Founder of The Sports Psychology Hub. With over a decades’ experience supporting athletes, coaches, parents and teams to achieve their goals, faster.
T: +44 7734 697769
