Transforming Children and Young Athletes Sporting Experience
Real Impact Stories (Ages 7-21+)
At Inspiring Sporting Excellence we’re proud to share impact stories from our work with 1000’s of children and young athletes aged 7-21+ years old. These stories illustrate how our sports psychology support has helped them across a range of sports, challenges and age-stages.
Ages 7–11 (Foundations in Sport)
Our sports psychology support helps children aged 7–11 enjoy their sport, look forward to practices and games, and stay confident when things don’t go their way. They learn resilience after mistakes or tough matches and remain engaged without frustration or giving up.
Examples of Our Positive Impact
“My son had a terrible time playing football in a toxic environment, with a really competitive coach. He used to love football but got to the point where he hated it and was sick every time he went near the pitch. It was so hard as a parent to deal with. We can’t thank you enough. He’s now back training and playing after a really tough year enjoying himself and smiling too.” – Dawn, Mum of Young Footballer, 8 years old.
“Ella is very hard on herself and puts lot of pressure on herself when competing in the gym. It culminated in mental blocks and lots of tears for over a year. We wish we had contacted you earlier as she is a much happier little girl now!” – Jackie, Mum of Young Child, 10 years old, who competes in gymnastics.
“James is a sensitive and intelligent young boy, he’s also shy and is difficult to talk to. When we approached you his confidence was at rock bottom playing cricket and it was impacting him at cricket and at home too. Where he was quiet and often angry. You helped restore his confidence and he’s now much happier.” – Ryan, Dad of Young Child, 10 years old, who plays cricket.
Ages 12-16 (Building Resilience & Identity)
Common things we come across when supporting 12-16 year olds is: rebuilding confidence after a poor run, mistakes or setbacks, develop resilience when facing criticism or being left out, and manage frustration or anxiety from comparing themselves to others. We help them rediscover enjoyment, motivation, and a lasting love for their sport.
“On the tennis court, Sophia really struggled with losing and dealing with mistakes. She was nearly always upset or getting angry during matches. She is now more resilient and better able to handle difficulties when she plays. Thank you!” – John, Dad of Young Tennis Players, 12 years old, who competed nationally.
“My son is physically strong and fit however he really struggled when up against physically aggressive opponents and teams. He now concentrated on himself much better which is fantastic!” Alfie – Dad of Young Teenager, 13 years old, who plays football.
“Libs loved playing golf, and grew up playing from a young age with her dad. As she got older it was clear that she was talented. Her handicap dropped dramatically over the years. But this meant her expectations of herself were very high. She started to hate golf and would be very emotional afterwards. The car journeys were horrible, we were walking on egg shells. Now though she has a better attitude and perspective on it all. Great job!” – Anne – Mum of Young Teenager, 14 years old, who plays golf.
Ages 17-21+ (Transition & Performance)
Examples of Our Positive Impact
In general, our sports psychology support helps 17–21+ year-olds manage confidence challenges during trials, selections, or transitions to senior levels and professional sport. We guide them in balancing academic and sporting demands, coping with pressure and burnout, and building resilience while developing independence. This helps them stay motivated, focused, and engaged in their sport with a clearer sense of purpose and enjoyment.
“After being sidelined for a season because the club brought a new keeper in, I lost my confidence. Training became a chore. Now I can definitely tell my mindset is much better from before we started working. I’m feeling great mentally and training well. I’ve a spring in my step. We’ve stayed in touch for a few years now and will continue to do so.” – Robbie, Professional Goalkeeper
“I approached David because I was not enjoying my golf. I practised really hard, 4-5 hours most days and competed occasionally. I hated competing because I was always searching for perfect technique. My confidence was shot. David helped me become more fearless and to get out there playing more and have fun.” – Sam, Yorkshire – +2 Golfer, Age 18
“With your help I managed a number of podiums after a terrible start to the season. Your mental strategies really helped me focus on what I could control and not worry too much about what other people might have been thinking or results.” -Alan, Motorcycle Rider – Birmingham
Frequently Asked Questions: Sports Psychology for 7-21+ Year Olds
Do you offer one off sessions?
Very rarely do we offer one off sessions. As we don’t like to waste your time and money. Behaviour changes occur over a period of time, much like building strength or fitness up in the gym. We tend to find programmes from 4 hours and above make positive lasting change.
Can we try a taster session?
We prefer for you to agree to a minimum of 3 sessions, however appreciate not everyone would agree with this approach therefore we can be flexible in meeting your needs.
What is the cost of your services?
As our services are bespoke to the individual client we do not publish our fees online. We do however have a small team with different experiences and skillsets so we are able to meet the financial preferences of almost every client. Our lowest package costs £190 for 4 hours support which equates to an hourly rate of less than £50 which is a bargain for what we offer. The more experienced the practitioner the higher the cost, however we do keep our pricing affordable and in line with services in the Sports Psychology for Children and Parents domain.
Would speaking to my child’s coach or ourselves as parents cost more?
We’re happy to incorporate conversations with parents and coaches into the programs that we offer at no additional cost. This can be a useful exercise to get another opinion and for us all to work as a team to help your child.
Would it help at the end of the program to offer advice to my child’s coaches and ourselves as parents?
We liase with our client (your child) on their preferred way of going about this, taking into account their privacy and confidentiality. A call to parents / coaches, some notes or voice notes using WhatsApp can be sufficient though must be agreed with your child to maintain our positive and trusting relationship.
If sessions are online, do you record so parents and/or coaches can see it?
Everyone is different, some children and parents refer back to video’s when they are recorded and others don’t. Some are comfortable with recordings, some aren’t and fail to disclose detail freely. We’d be led by your child and yourself and if it was preferred we’d ask for written consent.
