Building mental toughness in young athletes isn't just about teaching them to think positively or overcome setbacks. Physical activity, especially strength training, can help kids develop confidence, resilience and the ability to manage stress, says strength coach Mike Ockrim.

Ockrim, founder of Mighty Oak Athletic in Westmont, Ill., and author of Death Resistant, says physical challenges prepare kids to handle life's emotional obstacles.

"The quickest way to change your mental state is to change your physical state," Ockrim says.

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For neurodiverse young athletes, struggles on the field, court or in the gym may have little to do with effort or motivation. Lisa Richer, founder of Journey to Bloom, says that coaches and parents need to look beyond performance and understand the individual athlete.

Richer, a former elite gymnast who competed on the U.S. national team in the 1980s, draws on her own experiences as an undiagnosed neurodivergent athlete. She now works with families, athletes and coaches to identify obstacles that can affect both athletic performance and confidence.

"Diagnoses inform; they do not define how we work with a student, an athlete, or a professional," Richer said.

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Visit our Youth Sports Psychology Blog

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Craig Young, author of Growing Up Young: One Family's Faith Journey to the NFL and father of Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young, says he damaged his relationship with his son by being overbearing about Bryce's success in sports.

"I was just hell-bent on, 'he is not going to squander this gift,'" he said.

His wife told him that Bryce felt increasingly uncomfortable around his father.

"To hear that my behavior was pushing my son away was just like a dagger to my heart," Young said. "And I immediately just sought the help that I needed and then also made those changes."

Young now advises parents to separate their children's confidence from playing time, rankings and performance. Sports, he said, offer lessons that extend far beyond competition, including teamwork, perseverance and the ability to perform under pressure.

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Email episode ideas to LisaEllenCohn1@gmail.com and put "Podcast Pitch" in the subject line.

Visit host Lisa Cohn at LisaECohn.com