Confidence in young athletes is a trainable outcome rooted in self-awareness, disciplined consistency, targeted subconscious programming (visualization with emotion) and supportive adult influences. Sports kids should combine clear goals, intentional mental practice and persistent physical work to become resilient and high-performing, said Chris Harris, a mindset and elite performance expert.

Learn more about Harris at ChrisHarris.com

Learn more about host Lisa Cohn at LisaECohn.com

When sports kids experience concussions, they don't just affect kids' brains, they affect their bodies and even their families, said Robert Baric, a chiropractor and member of the Brain Injury Association of North Carolina.

A concussion can change kids' heart output, sleep and hormonal balance, for example. And it can affect the family, or, as Baric says, create a "traumatic family injury."Parents may have to take time off work to care for the child or teen who experienced the concussion. Other children in the family don't get as much attention while the parents are focused on helping heal the brain injury.

He describes the effect of concussions on young athletes' confidence and explains what parents should do when their young athletes have concussions.

About the guest

Robert Baric is CEO of MyConcussionDr

Email LisaEllenCohn1@gmail.com with episode ideas or comments.

Visit our blog

Visit host Lisa Cohn at LisaECohn.com

How can sports parents create well-rounded kids in youth sports, which can be hyper-specialized and intense?

David Murray's book, Soccer Dad, is the story of a "soccer-ignorant, sports-ambivalent writer who saw his daughter from the kiddie leagues through the travel-sports gauntlet to a coveted Division I scholarship. And then realized his work had only begun," says his book's Amazon description.

In this interview, he discusses the challenges of helping kids find a balanced life when they're immersed in the youth sports world.

He suggests:

--Introduce larger heroes (Muhammad Ali, Billie Jean King)

--Anchor the sport in values (teamwork, sisterhood, purpose)

--Seek meaning beyond scholarships

About the guest:

David Murray's daughter, Scout, "loved soccer from toddlerhood. Her drive and skill pulled the Murray family into the world of youth sports―one as culturally obsessive as it is economically exclusive, where each new achievement presents more challenges." Learn more on Amazon.

Visit LisaECohn.com to learn more about host Lisa Cohn.

Visit our youth sports psychology blog at YouthSportsPsychology.com