In this episode of The Golf Parent Podcast, I sit down with Lanny Bassham, an Olympic Gold Medalist and mental performance coach, to explore how junior golfers can develop a champion’s mindset. Lanny shares the mental training system that helped him go from choking under pressure at the Olympics to dominating his sport with 22 world titles.

We dive into golf psychology, mental toughness, and confidence-building techniques that can help young golfers improve their golf swing, golf practice, and tournament performance. Lanny reveals why the top 5% of athletes prioritize mental training and how parents can support their child's junior golf development without adding pressure.

If your junior golfer struggles with performance anxiety, self-doubt, or inconsistency, this episode is packed with practical golf tips, visualization techniques, and mental exercises to help them play with confidence and focus.

Whether your child is just starting with golf lessons for kids or competing in junior golf tournaments, this episode will give you the tools to help them succeed.

🎧 Listen now and give your child the mental edge on the course!

Takeaways:

The mental game is crucial for excelling in sports, but it is often undervalued and neglected in training.

The top performers prioritize the mental game, while many others focus solely on skill development.

Parents play a significant role in shaping their children's self-image and should focus on building a positive self-image through constructive feedback and solution-oriented discussions.

Imprints, both positive and negative, influence self-image and performance.

Starting mental training at a young age can have long-term benefits for athletes. Passion is a crucial factor in sports, and parents should support and nurture their children's passion.

There are three levels of participation: interested, training to compete, and training to win. Parents should match their level of participation with their child's.

The mental game is essential in sports, and athletes and parents should prioritize mental skills training.

Overcoming fear and negative self-talk is crucial for success in sports. Developing a mental management system can help athletes stay focused and consistent.

Parents play a significant role in the mental coaching of their children and should seek resources and support to improve their understanding of the mental game.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Importance of the Mind in Sports

02:51 The Undervalued Mental Game

07:53 The Difference Between Top Performers and the Rest

10:50 The Role of Parents in Shaping Self-Image

17:56 Constructive Feedback and Solution-Oriented Discussions

21:17 The Power of Positive Imprints

29:37 Starting Mental Training at a Young Age

32:02 The Importance of Passion and Competition in Sports

36:27 The Role of Parents in Supporting Children's Passion

39:26 Understanding the Mental Game in Sports

41:45 Overcoming Fear and Negative Self-Talk

47:02 Prioritizing Mental Skills Training

01:00:47 The Role of Parents as Mental Coaches

Links: 

Website - ⁠https://withwinninginmind.com

https://mentalmanagement.com

The Golf Parent

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