Managing Distractions

Athletes aged 7 to 18 who find noise, competing advice, mistakes, comparison or unexpected changes interrupt their training and competition.

Useful for parents, carers and coaches supporting an athlete’s concentration. Examples centre on everyday athlete experiences and allow for different tasks, ages and support needs.

64 focused sections across 16 chapters, plus a cover, contents, top tips and closing message.

Guidance on preparing the environment, handling noise and instructions, responding to mistakes, managing comparison, coping with changes and building a flexible reset.

Practical response examples, useful takeaways and a personal distraction-response plan, including when to ask an adult for support.

Recognise common patterns that interrupt attention.

Reduce avoidable distractions through practical preparation.

Choose a clear next action after an interruption or mistake.

Adapt a reset to the time and information available.

Recognise when a concern needs support instead of simply trying to ignore it.

Managing Distractions belongs to the Sports Progression Hub Focus and Concentration collection and can be used independently.

Building Focus in Sport develops the foundations of useful attention, while Sustaining Concentration explores staying involved across changing demands and returning ready after pauses. This guide concentrates on what to do when an interruption arrives, giving athletes practical choices they can discuss and adapt with their coach.