Parents who rush to help their children overcome challenges may unintentionally undermine their confidence, says Denny Strecker, a martial arts instructor with 35 years of teaching experience.

Strecker, owner of Mastery Martial Arts in Troy, Mich. and author of How to Double Your Child's Confidence in Just 30 Days, says children develop confidence by solving problems, making mistakes and experiencing success on their own.

"Parents feel that it's just faster if they do it, which is true in the short term. But in the long term, it teaches your child helplessness," he said.

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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.

Send podcast episode ideas to LisaEllenCohn1@gmail.com with the email subject line "Podcast Pitch."

Visit our Youth Sports Psychology Blog

Visit host Lisa Cohn at LisaECohn.com