Sample issue · Youth sports psychology
Try asking what was fun first
Young people who play say they do it for fun and to be with friends, so that is a good place to start.
This issue
Try saying: “What was the best part?”
In a national survey of 3,827 young people aged 10 to 17, players who were still playing said the best part was having fun (48%) and playing with friends (47%). Starting with the part they enjoyed keeps the talk on what brings them back.
Two short tips
- Ask who was fun to play with. Playing with friends is the second most common reason young players give for playing. Try: “Who was fun to play with today?”
- Name the effort you noticed. Praise for what they tried helps a child believe they can keep getting better. Try: “I saw you keep working on that.”
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