1. Kids carry pressure much earlier than they used to. A nine-year-old can be running the schedule Carla had in high school, and parents who say they never push can still create that pressure by filling every afternoon.
2. Start by asking what he was thinking. When a boy throws his racket or falls apart after one strikeout, help him name what his inner critic was saying in that moment.
3. Aim for neutral before positive. After a mistake, skip "that was terrible" and simply observe it: "Wow, that was a shot." Positive self-talk comes later, once he truly believes in himself.
4. Focus on what he can control. The same swing can pop up, strike out or clear the fence, so put his attention on the process and the present moment instead of the outcome.
5. Redefine the win. Did he play better than last time, or stay calm when he usually wouldn't? Carla calls those the real wins, and says the trophy is the icing on the cake.

"The championship win, or just the W period, is like the icing on the cake. It really is: did I come out here better than I did last time?" - Dr. Carla Caturia

"Did I stay calm when I normally would have not stayed calm? Those are the real wins." - Dr. Carla Caturia

"We can still work hard yet enjoy it and feel it and be present there." - Dr. Carla Caturia