Today, in episode #279 David and Gerard discuss the challenges faced by a 12-year-old cricketer named Amir (pseudonym), who is a leg spinner struggling with inconsistent selection due to the club's preference for pace bowling.  Amir's fluctuating motivation and confidence, as well as the potential for dropping out of cricket are attributed to poor communication from coaches and his own difficulty in expressing frustrations. 

Key Learning Points:

·         Helping the cricketer develop psychological flexibility to separate his self-worth from the selection decisions made by the coaches is key.

·         Encourage the cricketer to focus on the controllables, such as his attitude, effort, and the key ingredients that make up a good performance, rather than the uncontrollable factors like the perfect delivery.

·         Coaches should consider carefully how they communicate to prevent young cricketers and athletes from feeling undervalued and potentially quitting the sport. 

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Podcast Episodes Related To The Youth Sport Experience

Ep176 Camilla Knight: How To Help Enhance The Psychological Wellbeing Of Children In Sport #BITESIZE

Ep168 - Andrew Simpson: How To Navigate Youth Sports So That Children Enjoy The Experience More

 

Ep141 -David Charlton: How to Help a Child Who Wants to Quit Sport

 

Other Valuable Resources To Help Children, Young Athletes, Parents and Youth Sport Coaches

Youth Sports Psychology Library

Conversations With Kids Ideas

Frequently Asked Questions - Sport Psychology for Children and Parents

Resources To Support Cricketers So That They Play With Confidence

Cricket Psychology Library

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