Helping a player through mental challenges

[JaC]

Hi everyone,

What are some techniques you've used to help a player who gets in their head and impacts their game? I'm working with a 10 year old girl who has great skills and potential, is coachable, but gets down on herself. Once she gets in thatvheadspaxe wether it's at practice or in a game, you can see her game go down the drain.

Any ideas on how to pull her out of the hole?

Appreciate your help!

 

[VikingSB]

This is tough because the methods that work vary with each player.
This past year I had a senior that would get in her head after an error and I started making her physically “shake it out.” It didn’t matter if it was on the bench after a K or while in the field. It took a little while for her to fully buy in but now I catch her doing it unprompted. Shaking out every inch and coming out the other side all smiles.
I find that humor is one of the most effective things in breaking the train of self doubt, so I have a stockpile of ultra lame dad jokes ripe for the picking.
I occasionally will have a girl come up with a positive mantra or phrase that they can repeat in their head when they are in a negative headspace.
During practice I will have girls step away if they make multiple errors to take a few deep breaths and self reflect on what is going on. If you just keep hitting balls at them and they keep missing, it’s only going to accentuate the issue.