The next time you take your son or daughter to a game and see them glued to their phone, Larissa Mills wants you to think about something important: “It takes 22 minutes for the brain to refocus,” she explains in an interview with ‘USA Today Sports’ published Sunday. “They shouldn’t even get on the field,” she comments flatly.

Mills, director of the Mental Game Academy in Ontario, is convinced that mental development is as important as physical development in sports. With a background in sociology, psychology and education, and as a mother of three, she has worked with thousands of athletes, from youth to professional, in Canada and the United States. Her mission is clear: to help athletes develop psychological skills that will enable them to perform at their best, while educating parents about their role in this process.

IMPACT OF THE PHONE ON SPORTS PERFORMANCE

For Mills, the excessive use of cell phones is seriously affecting young athletes. “Our kids spend between 4 and 12 hours a day on their phones, and parents spend between 4 and 9 hours. When are they learning emotional or social skills? They’re not,” she said. According to her, this disconnection not only affects sports performance, but also the relationship between parents and children.

The Mental Game Academy is working to change this reality. One of its key recommendations is to limit phone use two hours before a game or practice and one hour before bedtime. This not only improves concentration, but also reduces levels of dopamine and cortisol, two chemicals that, in excess, can generate anxiety and affect decision-making. “The phone slows us down, as if our brain is in oil,” Mills explained.

CONFIDENCE AND SELF-ESTEEM: KEYS TO SUCCESS

Mills also highlights how social media can sabotage young people’s performance. “In 30 seconds of scrolling, our brain can go from a positive feeling to a negative one,” he noted. Constant comparisons to other athletes online breed insecurities and thoughts like “I’m not fast enough” or “my stats aren’t good.” For this reason, he recommends reducing phone time to less than two hours a day.

Another tool taught in the ‘Mental Game Academy’ is the use of personal mantras to reinforce confidence. Phrases such as “I am strong,” “I am fast” or “I am unstoppable” help young people stay focused and overcome negative thoughts. “When we boost confidence, bravery and positive aggressiveness take over,” Mills stated in the pages of ‘USA Today’.

THE ROLE OF PARENTS IN MENTAL DEVELOPMENT

Mills also addresses a sensitive issue: the impact of parents on their children’s performance. According to her, 60% of the young people who attend her academy say their parents negatively affect their sports experience. “I can’t believe how many parents yell instructions from the bleachers and ruin their children’s experience,” she commented. Instead of pushing, Mills suggests that parents focus on providing emotional support and reassurance. “When parents understand this, the relationship with their children improves significantly,” he said.

In addition, Mills stresses the importance of teaching young people to accept constructive criticism from their coaches and to set personal boundaries. This not only improves their performance in sports, but also helps them develop essential life skills.

CONTROLLING EMOTIONS TO IMPROVE PERFORMANCE

The Mental Game Academy specializes in helping teenagers who have spent thousands of hours on their phones before the age of 16. According to Mills, this overuse of technology has reduced their attention span and ability to receive feedback. “Many kids today can’t be trained because they have a six-second attention span,” he said.

Adopting a routine of phone use is just the first step. Mills also encourages young people to interact with peers and opponents in real time, to accept constructive criticism and to remain calm in high-pressure situations. “When we control our emotions, we not only help our teammates, but we also set personal boundaries that will stay with us for a lifetime,” he concluded.

With its innovative approach, the ‘Mental Game Academy’ is transforming the way young athletes approach sport. Larissa Mills not only seeks to improve athletic performance, but also to develop people who are more confident, resilient and connected to those around them. As Jeff Nelligan, an author and father of three who has collaborated with Mills said, “She is helping to raise young people who are leaders, respectful and engaged in everything they do.”