Top 5 Ways to Get Your Youth Sports Team to Focus Before a Game

You want your youth sports team to do well in a game or tournament. If they are distracted, they won’t perform as well as if they were focused. While it is mostly up to them to concentrate on the game, there are a few things you can do to help them stay focused! Here are the top 5 ways to get your youth sports team to focus before a game:

1. Eat Healthy Meals

When kids eat healthy snacks and meals, they will be more likely to concentrate and focus. The best things your kids can eat before a game include toast, greens, and fruits. Healthy carbs like toast and beans can increase cognition, while the veggies and fruits have antioxidants to increase brain power. Eating healthy is important all the time, but it is especially helpful right before a big game or tournament.

2. Listen to Music

Listening to music has proven to help with concentration and mood again and again. If your kids listen to music while your team is warming up, especially songs they enjoy, it can help them focus on practicing and warm ups instead of all the hustle and bustle going on around them. Playing songs that have a message of empowerment and determination, such as “Eye of the Tiger,” can especially help your kids get in the right headspace to concentrate on what they are doing during their game.

3. Good Night’s Rest

One of the most important things you can do to improve your youth sports team’s concentration is to make sure they get enough rest. If the kids are tired, they won’t be able to concentrate properly for the big game. When you have enough rest, your body and brain are ready to be put to work.

4. Have Fun

Kids are playing on youth sports teams to have fun! Everyone wants to win, but instead of focusing on what they can improve on or winning the title, be sure to encourage them to have fun while they play. Playing sports as a kid helps build character, improve physical health, and so many more benefits, but having fun is one of the most important aspects. They won’t want to keep playing if they aren’t having fun while doing it!

5. Use Centering Techniques

If you find your team gets nervous or unfocused before big games, use centering techniques to bring them back to the present. This can be a time for meditation or just breathing exercises to keep their minds focused on the present instead of the past or the future. You can even use words like “relax” or “focus” while they breathe to help them. Using centering techniques will reduce anxiety and help them concentrate.

There are so many ways to get your youth sports team to focus before the big game. Want to sign your team up for a tournament so you can practice some of these tips? Look through our upcoming tournaments and sign up for one today!