+44 (0)7940997413
Youth Sport Psychology & Mental Coaching in East Anglia
Callum Abbott MSc, CPsychol
Chartered Sport and Exercise Psychologist - Ipswich, Suffolk
Serving Suffolk, Norfolk, East Anglia, and globally with in-person and remote sport psychology sessions available.
Supporting Your Child's Mental Game​​
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As a parent or guardian of a youth athlete, it can be just as hard for you on their sporting journey as well. You’re there to get them to training, encourage them, buy the kit, reassure after mistakes and push to be better, yet once they’re out on the pitch there’s nothing you can do. Perhaps you've watched your child train brilliantly all week, only to see them freeze when the scout arrives, or maybe they're full of confidence at practice but struggle to show their ability when it matters most at trials. Maybe they've been knocked back from an academy, dropped from the starting line-up, or they're playing against older athletes and losing belief in themselves as things get tougher.
As a parent, you want to support them as best as possible, but it can be difficult to know how. That's where youth sport psychology can help.
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I'm Callum Abbott, a Chartered Sport & Exercise Psychologist based in Suffolk. I work with young athletes aged 8-19 (and beyond) who are facing the mental challenges that come with competitive sport. Whether your child plays football, hockey, athletics, netball, rugby, or any other sport, I provide evidence-based mental coaching to help them develop confidence, manage pressure, and perform consistently when it counts.
If you're looking for a mental coach to help your son or daughter unlock their potential, I offer professional sport psychology support across Suffolk, with flexible online sessions available for families throughout the UK and globally.
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Common Youth Sport Psychology Challenges I Help With
Confidence after setbacks
Being dropped from a team, losing a starting position, or not making a squad can significantly impact a young athlete's self-belief. Recovering from these setbacks and maintaining confidence is crucial for long-term development.
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Performance anxiety at crucial moments
Many young athletes perform well in training but struggle when the pressure increases during important matches, competitions, or events. Whether it's a cup final, regional championships, or moments when scouts are watching, the pressure to perform can lead to overthinking, tension, and not playing their natural game.
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Managing emotions during competition
Sport can be emotionally intense for young people. Frustration after mistakes, anger at referees, or nervousness before key moments can all affect performance if not managed effectively.
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Fear of making mistakes or letting others down
Some young athletes become overly cautious because they're worried about disappointing coaches, parents, or teammates. This fear can stop them from playing freely and taking necessary risks.
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Using strengths consistently
Some young athletes know what they're good at but struggle to demonstrate these strengths when the pressure is on. Mental coaching can help them access their best abilities more reliably.
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Perfectionism and self-criticism
Some young athletes are incredibly hard on themselves, dwelling on mistakes long after matches end. This self-criticism can affect their confidence and enjoyment.
Youth Mental Performance Support Can Include:
Individual sessions for young athletes
Parent consultation and involvement
Between-session support
Access to key mental skills resources
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Working with Young Athletes Across Suffolk, Norfolk & Beyond
In-person sessions are available at Perform for Sport in Ipswich, a professional sports performance and rehabilitation centre. This provides a dedicated, supportive environment for young athletes to develop their mental skills.
Online sessions are available via video call for families who prefer remote support or live outside the local area. I work with young athletes globally, providing the same high-quality, evidence-based mental coaching regardless of location.
I have experience supporting young athletes from local clubs and academies including:
• Ipswich Town Football Club Academy
• Norwich City Football Club Academy
• Suffolk FA regional teams
• Suffolk Netball
• Local athletics clubs and golf clubs across Suffolk and Norfolk
• Hockey, and rugby programmes throughout the region
• International athletes and performers competing globally via online sessions
Whether your child competes at grassroots level, represents their county, or is pursuing an academy pathway, I provide professional sport psychology support tailored to their developmental stage and sporting goals.
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Ready to take the next step? Book a free 15-minute discovery call to discuss how sport psychology can help your child, or get in touch directly to ask any questions using the details below.
Email: abbottsportpsy@gmail.com
Phone: +44 (0)7940997413
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Starting Your Child's Sport Psychology Journey
A simple, professional process designed to help your child achieve their sporting goals
Schedule a free 15-minute discovery call to discuss your child's sporting goals, mental game challenges, and how sport psychology can help. This is a chance for you to ask questions and determine if we're the right fit. No commitment required.
4. Skill Development
We work through the personalised programme together, developing mental skills like confidence-building, emotional management, and focus techniques. Regular sessions include practical exercises they can use in training and competition.
2. Comprehensive Assessment
Your child completes a detailed exploration of their current approach to their sport, including their strengths, areas for development, and specific performance goals they want to achieve.
5. Ongoing Support
Your child continues with ongoing support, progress monitoring, and mental skills development. They maintain contact between sessions with email support and performance tracking to embed new skills.
3. Tailored Programme
Your child receives a bespoke sport psychology programme designed specifically for their age, sport, developmental stage, and individual needs which we work through together in session. Every plan is evidence-based and focused on practical skills.
6. Review and Refine
Regular programme reviews to assess progress, celebrate improvements, and adapt techniques based on your child's development and changing sporting demands. Youth sport psychology is dynamic, so we adjust the plan as they grow and face new challenges.
Why choose a Chartered Sport Psychologist?
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Professional Experience That Matters
I work with athletes across all sports and performance levels:
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Traditional sports: Football, rugby, athletics, cycling, golf, tennis
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Combat sports: Boxing, MMA, martial arts
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Team sports: Hockey, netball, basketball
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Individual sports: Swimming, gymnastics, running
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Esports: League of Legends, Valorant, Counter Strike, Rocket League
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Youth to elite level: From junior athletes to professional competitors
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International tournament experience including work with professional esports teams
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Professional Qualifications That Matter
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Chartered Sport & Exercise Psychologist with the British Psychological Society
HCPC Registration ensuring professional standards, ethical practice, and appropriate safeguarding when working with young people
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Published research in sport and performance psychology
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Full professional insurance for your protection and peace of mind
Why is sport psychology so important for youth athletes?
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Youth sport psychology and mental coaching have become increasingly recognised as essential components of young athlete development. While physical training, technical skills, and tactical awareness are crucial, the mental side of sport can significantly influence how young athletes perform, develop, and experience their sporting journey.
For parents seeking mental coaching or sport psychology support for their child, understanding why these mental skills matter can help you make informed decisions about your child's development. Sport psychology for youth athletes isn't just about winning matches or improving performance, it's also about developing psychological skills that can support wellbeing, enjoyment, resilience, and personal growth both in sport and beyond.
Mental skills that extend beyond sport
One of the most valuable aspects of youth sport psychology is that the mental skills young athletes develop can transfer into other areas of their lives. Confidence-building techniques used on the football pitch may help with school presentations. Emotional regulation strategies learned for managing competitive frustration can support how they handle academic pressure or social challenges. Focus and concentration skills developed for penalty kicks might improve their ability to study effectively.
Supporting wellbeing and enjoyment
Youth sport should be enjoyable. However, the pressures of competitive sport which might include academy trials, scout evaluations, team selections, and performance expectations, can sometimes reduce a young athlete's enjoyment and impact their mental wellbeing. Sport psychology support can help young athletes maintain a healthy relationship with their sport, managing pressure in ways that protect their wellbeing while still pursuing their goals.
Mental coaching for young athletes often focuses on helping them reconnect with why they love their sport, develop healthy perspectives on winning and losing, and build resilience that allows them to bounce back from disappointments without losing their passion. For parents, seeing your child enjoy their sport again can be just as important as watching them perform well.
Building confidence and self-belief
Confidence can be fragile for youth athletes. Being dropped from a squad, making mistakes in front of coaches, or comparing themselves to teammates can quickly undermine self-belief. Sport psychology provides young athletes with evidence-based techniques to build and maintain confidence, even when facing setbacks.
Through mental coaching, young athletes can learn to focus on controllable factors, recognise their strengths, and develop self-belief that's based on their effort and development rather than just results. This type of confidence may be more stable and sustainable than confidence based solely on winning or external validation.
Developing emotional regulation and mental resilience
Youth sport can be emotionally intense. Young athletes experience frustration, anxiety, disappointment, and pressure; sometimes all within a single match. Learning to manage these emotions effectively is a very useful skill that sport psychology can help develop.
Mental coaching teaches young athletes practical strategies for regulating emotions during competition, recovering mentally from mistakes, and maintaining composure under pressure. These emotional regulation skills might help them perform more consistently, but they can also support better relationships with teammates, coaches, and family members.
Supporting motivation and long-term development
The pathway through youth sport is rarely straightforward. Young athletes face growth spurts, injuries, changing team dynamics, increased competition, and the challenge of balancing sport with school and social life. Maintaining motivation through these challenges can be really tough sometimes.
Sport psychology can help young athletes understand their motivation, set meaningful goals, and maintain commitment to their sport even during difficult periods. For parents watching their child lose interest or question whether to continue, mental coaching might provide the support needed to work through these challenges and make informed decisions about their sporting future.
Performing under pressure
One of the most common reasons parents seek sport psychology support is to help their child perform better under pressure. Whether it's academy trials, championship finals, or a county swimming gala, many young athletes struggle to show their abilities when it matters most.
Through mental coaching, young athletes can develop pre-performance routines, pressure management techniques, and focus strategies that may help them access their skills more consistently in high-pressure situations. While sport psychology cannot guarantee performance outcomes, it can provide young athletes with tools to manage pressure more effectively.
Different challenges at different stages
The mental challenges young athletes face can vary significantly depending on their age and stage of development:
Early youth athletes (8-12 years) may benefit from sport psychology support around basic confidence-building, managing first-time nerves, learning to handle mistakes, and maintaining enjoyment as competition increases. At this stage, mental coaching often focuses on developing a positive relationship with sport and building foundational mental skills.
Mid-youth athletes (13-16 years) might face more complex challenges including academy pressures, increased competition, managing setbacks like deselection, comparing themselves to peers, and balancing sport with academic demands. Sport psychology at this stage can support emotional regulation, resilience-building, and healthy competitive mindsets.
Older youth athletes (17-19 years) approaching or in academy systems may experience significant performance pressure, decisions about sporting futures, and the mental demands of semi-professional or professional pathways. Mental coaching can help with performance anxiety, maintaining motivation, and developing the psychological skills needed for higher levels of competition.
Making informed decisions about youth sport psychology
If you're considering mental coaching or sport psychology support for your child, it's important to choose a qualified professional. A Chartered Sport & Exercise Psychologist has completed extensive training, maintains professional registration, holds full insurance, and adheres to strict ethical standards; all of which are particularly important when working with young people.
Youth sport psychology can be a valuable investment in your child's development, providing them with mental skills that support not only their sporting performance but also their wellbeing, confidence, and personal growth. Whether your child is struggling with specific challenges or simply looking to develop their mental game, evidence-based sport psychology support can help them navigate their youth sporting journey effectively.
Ready to explore how sport psychology might help your child?
If you'd like to discuss your child's sporting journey and explore whether mental coaching could be beneficial, book a free 15-minute discovery call. There's no pressure or commitment required, it's simply an opportunity to talk through your child's challenges and ask any questions you might have about youth sport psychology support.