Athletics & Wellness
Juniors (Ages 8-11)
10 min
Growth Mindset for Athletes
Explain the difference between 'I can't' and 'I can't yet'.
Tutorial Preview
1
What is a Mindset?
Your mindset is how you think about your skills and abilities. Some people think their talent is fixed, meaning it can't change. This is called a fixed mindset. But athletes know that with practice, you can always get better.
2
The Growth Mindset
A growth mindset is the belief that you can improve your skills through effort and practice. It's like thinking of your brain as a muscle. The more you use it to learn new things, the stronger and smarter it gets!
3
From 'I Can't' to 'I Can't... Yet'
Saying "I can't make that shot" feels like an ending. But what if you add one small word? Saying "I can't make that shot YET" means you know it's possible. It tells your brain that you just need more practice to get there.
2 more steps in this tutorial
Sign up free to access the complete tutorial with worked examples and practice.
Sign Up Free to ContinueSample Practice Questions
Challenging
A coach says, "I'm more impressed by your effort in today's hard practice than your score in last week's easy game." How does this coach's statement support a "can't yet" mindset in their athletes?
0.It shows that winning is the only thing that matters.
1.It suggests the coach is unhappy about the score in the easy game.
2.It teaches athletes that the process of trying hard and improving is more valuable than just relying on existing talent.
3.It means the coach thinks the team is not talented enough to win hard games.
Challenging
The idea of "I can't do it... yet" is powerful in sports. Which of the following is the best example of applying this SAME mindset to schoolwork?
0.Getting a bad grade on a math test and deciding you're "bad at math."
1.Not understanding a science concept and thinking, "I'll ask the teacher for help tomorrow."
2.Reading a history chapter once and expecting to remember every detail perfectly.
3.Avoiding a book report because you think writing is boring.
Easy
The phrase "I can't do this... yet" suggests that improvement is...
0.Impossible
1.Only for talented people
2.Possible with practice
3.Not important
Want to practice and check your answers?
Sign up to access all questions with instant feedback, explanations, and progress tracking.
Start Practicing Free