#1 Youth Sports Psychologist
Help your kid build lasting confidence and emotional strength
Your child’s sport should lift them up, not break them down. If comparison, pressure, or stress is taking the fun out of the game, it’s time for a reset. By learning how to handle nerves, mistakes, and tough competition, young athletes step onto the field with real belief in themselves. These aren’t just short-term fixes but skills that serve them for life, on and off the field.
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Building resilience through ups and downs of sports
In sports, every game is full of intense emotions. There are moments of triumph, frustration, and everything in between. For young athletes, navigating these emotional highs and lows can be just as challenging as the physical demands of the sport itself. A big win can feel amazing, but it can also lead to overconfidence, while a tough loss can feel devastating.
The key is learning how to stay calm and focused, no matter what happens. When athletes can keep their emotions in check, they’re better able to bounce back quickly and keep improving. A youth sports psychologist can help your child develop the skills to manage these highs and lows, so they stay strong mentally and keep growing in their sport.
Dominate the game with confidence and clarity
When your child’s mindset is on point, their performance will follow. A youth sports psychologist can help develop the mental resilience to handle competition, overcome setbacks, and stay focused under pressure, regardless of the challenge ahead. It’s time to give your child the mental tools they need to succeed.
Stay calm when emotions rise
Sports can stir up intense feelings. Learning to stay calm helps kids handle those emotions and stay focused during tough trainings and competitions.
Build confidence after mistakes
It’s common for kids to get discouraged after a mistake. Building resilience through mental training helps them stay positive, bounce back quickly, and stay confident in their abilities.
Develop a pre-game routine
Having a solid routine helps kids feel prepared and mentally strong. A consistent practice before games helps them focus, reduce anxiety, and improve performance.
Manage competition pressure
The pressure of big games or important moments can overwhelm kids. Mental training teaches them how to manage that pressure, stay focused, and perform under stress.
Overcome mental blocks
Sometimes kids struggle to move past mental roadblocks, such as fear of failure. With the right mental tools, they can learn how to push through these obstacles and get back into the game.
Manage nerves and anxiety
Competition can bring nervous energy. Helping kids learn to recognise and control their anxiety gives them the confidence to stay calm and focused, no matter the situation.
Meet the youth sports psychologists who’ll help your child thrive
Our team of experienced youth sports psychologists can help your child tackle mental challenges, build real confidence, and stay focused when the pressure’s on. With the right mindset, they’ll learn how to turn obstacles into opportunities, bounce back from setbacks, and perform their best in the game.
Brian Langsworth
Michelle Pain
Harley de Vos
David Barracosa
Gareth J Mole
Madalyn Incognito
Darren Godwin
Alexandra Mapstone
James Kneller
Lauren Bischoff
Chris Pomfret
Interested? This is how it works.
Send us some basic details first and foremost
Whether you are enquiring on your own behalf or for someone else, please let us know the details about how you think we may be of service by completing all the fields on our New Enquiries form below. Once received, we'll try to get back to you within 24 hours.
Book In a call with tara or lizzie
After we get your enquiry, we'll be in touch to schedule a call with one of our New Enquiries Officers. During the call, you can elaborate on what kind of sports psychology support you are looking for, and they'll explain the 'boring but important stuff', such as the costs of our various Monthly Options.
We'll help you pick the right psychologist
Once you have provided Tara or Lizzie with more information about what you are looking for, they are uniquely placed to suggest which of our growing team of psychologists to start working with. They can also help you decide which Monthly Options to begin with, as well as book you in for the initial Kick Start Session.
Start improving your mental toughness
Once your initial Kick Start Session has been confirmed, your new sport psychologist will be in touch to introduce themselves and provide you with some key information about how to get the most from our unique approach to 1-on-1 Mental Toughness Training. Are you ready? Contact us now, and let's get started.
Focusing on the mental side of sports for young athletes
Every young athlete has the potential to succeed, but mental barriers like anxiety and getting inside their own head can get in the way. By working with a youth sports psychologist, your child can develop stronger focus and a positive mindset, helping them stay calm and perform confidently in every game.
Don’t let frustration end your kid’s love for the game
It can be painful seeing your child come home upset after a rough practice or game. Tears, outbursts, and talk of quitting are signs that stress is outweighing joy. They started their sport for fun, but now it feels like a burden. Without help, that frustration can grow until they walk away from something they once loved.
A youth sports psychologist helps kids reframe tough moments, lower the emotional sting of mistakes, and recover their enjoyment. With support, their love for the game can come back. Your child deserves to grow through sports, not feel crushed by them. And you don’t have to watch them struggle alone.
Get in touch
If you want to help your child stay focused, manage emotions, and rediscover the joy of sports, fill out the form to get started.
Questions parents often ask us about a youth sports psychologist
What does a youth sports psychologist actually do?
A youth sports psychologist works with young athletes on the mental side of their sport. While a coach will focus on skills like shooting, passing, or running faster, a sports psychologist helps with confidence, nerves, focus, and bouncing back from mistakes.
They give kids tools to calm their minds before games and ways to handle pressure so that sport becomes enjoyable again. Many children love their sport but feel weighed down by stress or fear of failure. This can lead to tears after games, frustration in training, or even talk of quitting.
A sports psychologist creates a safe place where your child can talk openly about these challenges and learn strategies that match their personality. Sessions often include practical techniques like breathing exercises, setting simple goals, positive self-talk, or visualisation.
These can be applied not just in sport but also at school, during tests, or in social settings. It isn’t about making your child “perfect.” It’s about helping them enjoy playing more, perform closer to their potential, and stay balanced emotionally, even when things don’t go to plan.
How can this help my child handle game-day nerves?
Game-day nerves are one of the biggest reasons that parents look for a youth sports psychologist. Kids often build up so much pressure in their heads that they forget the skills they’ve trained. An experienced performance psychologist helps by teaching ways to control the body and the mind together.
For example, simple breathing exercises lower nerves, while mental routines give kids a sense of familiarity before a competition. Instead of stepping on the field with jumbled thoughts, they develop a focused plan.
Your child may also learn how to think differently about nerves. Many kids believe nerves are “bad,” but sports psychology teaches them that nerves are natural and can be used as energy.
Another part of this is learning self-talk. This means replacing harsh inner voices like “Don’t mess up” with simple phrases like “Next play” or “I’ve got this.” Over time, your child starts to associate sports with confidence instead of fear.
That shift means fewer meltdowns before competition and more steady, calm performances. Your child won’t just get through games, they’ll actually look forward to them again.
My child loses confidence after mistakes. Can this really change?
Mistakes are a normal part of sport, yet many children see them as proof they’re not good enough. This cycle can cause kids to play “scared,” worrying more about messing up than enjoying the game.
A youth sports psychologist teaches athletes how to recover quickly after mistakes instead of letting them weigh down the whole match.
One trick is teaching your child to use a mental reset, like taking a deep breath, shaking off the mistake, or using a short phrase like “Next one.” These simple tools create a signal to move on, much like wiping a whiteboard clean. They stop the mind from replaying the error over and over.
Another important step is reshaping how your child views mistakes. If they can see mistakes as part of learning rather than failure, their confidence rises.
Many psychologists use “reflection drills” where after a game, the child lists not just what went wrong but what went right. This builds resilience and reminds them of their strengths.
It doesn’t turn mistakes into something fun, but it helps your child stop carrying them like heavy baggage, which means they can get back to enjoying their sport quicker.
Will my child feel like something is wrong with them?
It’s natural to worry that seeing a sports psychologist might make your child feel “different” or like something is wrong. But many kids quickly see it as no different from having a coach who helps with kicking, throwing, or swimming technique. Instead of fixing a problem, it’s about giving another layer of support that makes sports more enjoyable.
Often, kids feel relief when someone apart from their parents or coaches finally listens to their worries without judgement. A youth sports psychologist creates a safe setting to talk about pressure, nerves, or comparison with teammates. For most children, this feels supportive, not clinical or intimidating.
Parents can help by introducing the idea in a positive way. For example, you could say: “Just like athletes work on their skills, this person helps young players work on the mental side. It’s another way to get even better and feel calmer when you play.”
Framing it like this shows your child they’re not broken, they’re simply adding tools to their sporting backpack. This view makes sessions empowering rather than scary, helping your child see sports psychology as a strength, not a weakness.
How long does it usually take to see progress?
Every child is different, so there’s no single answer. Some young athletes notice small improvements like feeling calmer before games within the first few sessions. Others may take more time, depending on how deep the nerves or confidence struggles go.
A key thing to remember is that progress isn’t always a straight line. One weekend your child might play freely and confidently, and the next they might stumble a bit. That’s normal when learning new habits. What matters is whether they’re gradually feeling lighter, enjoying sport more, and finding it easier to bounce back from mistakes.
Parents can support the process at home by reinforcing what’s learned during sessions. That might mean praising effort instead of outcomes, or helping your child use their reset routine after errors. Growth happens fastest when both the child and their surroundings encourage the mindset tools.
In many cases, consistent practice with the mental strategies starts showing clear changes within a few months. The skills learned often stay for life, giving benefits not just for sports, but also school pressures, friendships, and other challenges.
Do they need to be a serious athlete for this to help?
This is a very common concern. Some parents think sports psychology is only for athletes training at elite levels. In truth, it can help kids at any stage, whether your child is ten years old in a local football league or a teen competing at high school championships.
The mental side of sport affects everyone. Younger children might need tools to handle nerves before school matches. Teens might struggle with constant comparison or fear of letting others down. These issues can cause stress no matter what level they compete at.
A youth sports psychologist simply gives children strategies that meet their level. For a younger child, it may be as basic as learning calming techniques before kick-off. For a more experienced athlete, it could be about handling pressure in try-outs or using visualisation to sharpen focus.
The goal always goes beyond sport. By helping kids enjoy themselves, handle pressure better, and grow confidence, they pick up tools they can use well into adulthood. Whether they go pro or not, these are skills that support their everyday lives.
What if my child doesn’t want to open up?
It’s common for kids to feel shy at first, especially around a new adult. They may worry about being judged, or feel embarrassed about admitting their nerves. A youth sports psychologist knows this and uses a friendly, relaxed approach to build trust over time.
The first session may not even dive into deep issues. Sometimes it’s more about talking casually, finding things in common, or even using games or exercises to break the ice. Once your child realises this isn’t about “fixing” them or pointing out flaws, they tend to feel more comfortable.
Parents can help by not putting pressure on their child to talk about everything. Instead, you can phrase it like: “This is someone who can give you tools to make playing easier and more fun.” Kids often open up quicker when they see the sessions as helpful rather than as therapy.
Over time, most children start to feel relief at sharing worries that they don’t want to tell parents or coaches. Having a safe outlet often becomes something they look forward to because it’s their space.
How do sessions actually look for a child?
Sessions with a youth sports psychologist usually don’t feel like sitting in a classroom or doctor’s office. They are often interactive and practical. Your child might talk through recent games or feelings they’ve had, but they’ll also learn fun exercises they can use straight away in their sport.
For example, a session may include practising breathing strategies, creating visualisation scenes of success, or roleplaying how to handle mistakes during competition. Some psychologists even use props, sport scenarios, or movement-based tasks to keep sessions engaging. This helps kids connect the mental tools with their sports environment.
Your child may also set small, clear goals for the week ahead. Instead of saying “Be perfect,” they’ll work on achievable steps like “Stay calm before my first free throw” or “Take three deep breaths before my turn.” Parents might also be included briefly in sessions so they know how to support without adding extra pressure.
Overall, sessions are designed to be practical, supportive, and even enjoyable. They give your child direct tools they can apply, so it feels less like “talking about problems” and more like learning game skills, just for the mind.
What if our schedule is too busy already?
Many families worry that adding one more commitment to the calendar will overwhelm their child. The good news is that sessions don’t usually require a huge time investment to be effective. Many sports psychologists offer flexible formats, like short weekly sessions, fortnightly appointments, or even online options if travel is tough.
What’s also helpful is that the tools learned are simple and can be used in daily life. For example, breathing strategies or positive self-talk only take seconds. They become habits that slip naturally into warm-ups, training, or even school tests.
If you’re worried about time, you might start with just a few sessions to see how your child responds. Sometimes, even a small investment of time leads to big shifts in how they handle pressure. Parents often say that when their child enjoys sport more, the stress level at home drops too. That can actually make the whole schedule feel lighter.
It’s less about squeezing new hours in, and more about making the time your child spends in sport feel valuable and fun again.
How do parents fit into the process?
Parents play an important role, but you don’t have to be directly involved in every session. A youth sports psychologist usually spends most of the time one-on-one with your child, building trust and teaching strategies. Parents are often invited to have short chats to understand what tools are being taught, so they can gently support at home.
This might mean learning the same “reset” phrase your child uses after mistakes, or reminding them to practise their calm breathing routine. What parents don’t need to do is coach, push, or remind constantly. In fact, too much oversight can feel like pressure to a child. Your role is more about creating a supportive environment rather than playing “second psychologist.”
Some parents also find that these strategies spill over into the home. For example, kids who learn to manage pressure in sport often manage test nerves or sibling frustrations better. You’ll likely find that your presence as a calm, encouraging supporter is the best way to reinforce the work happening in sessions.
Over time, the process often builds stronger parent-child communication, making sports more enjoyable for both of you.
