Coach Carey ADHD Sports

Coach Carey ADHD Sports Helping kids with ADHD thrive on and off the field. Welcome to Coach Carey!

I’m Dr. Carey Heller (aka Coach Carey) and I share actionable tips for parents and coaches to help kids master executive functioning through sports and life. As a clinical psychologist and sports enthusiast, I help student-athletes, parents, coaches, and sports leagues overcome the unique executive function and attention hurdles that impact game-day performance, school life, and team/league organi

zation. I provide strategic frameworks, sport-board blueprints, and parent/coach-facing tips that build real-world confidence.

06/26/2026

Want to help your kid level up their sports game this summer? 📈🏀⚾

Summer is the ultimate time to bond, play catch, shoot some hoops, and just have fun. But it’s also a massive opportunity to build up your child's sports IQ in a low-pressure way!

When kids only focus on playing, they miss out on the strategy. Taking a step back to understand the nuances can change everything:

🏀 Basketball: Visualizing positions. What does a zone defense actually look like on the court? Where should players move when the ball changes hands?

⚾ Baseball: Understanding field awareness. If a ball gets hit to deep left field, where should the other fielders be backing up?

Teaching them the why behind the game builds deeper confidence, greater enjoyment, and translates directly to better performance on the field or court next season.

The Secret: Keep it visual, keep it conversational, and most importantly—keep it fun! ---

06/24/2026

Prime Day is here, and if you’re a sports parent, you already know the grind—and the expense! 😅 Before you start scrolling and adding everything to your cart, let’s talk about how to protect your wallet and your peace of mind with some intentional, psychologically sound shopping strategies. 🧠👇
🚀 3 Steps to Conquer Prime Day (Without the Buyer’s Remorse)
1. The “Must-Have” List: Write down exactly what your child needs for the upcoming season (think shin guards, new cleats, a replacement bat). If it goes on sale, lock it in. You were going to buy it anyway!
2. The “Wish List” Reality Check: Create a separate list for the training gear that would be nice to have (rebounders, pitching machines, etc.). Price them out first so you can spot a genuine discount vs. clever marketing.
3. Practice Intentional Spending: Just because it’s 40% off doesn’t mean it belongs in your garage. Impulse buys often turn into clutter, leading to visual and mental stress later on. Ask yourself: Will they actually use this, or am I just chasing the thrill of a deal?
Maximize your savings, avoid the clutter, and keep your head in the game this season!
💬 Sports parents, what’s the one piece of gear you’re hoping to find on sale today? Drop it in the comments!
ParentingTips SaveMoney

06/23/2026

The sports season is wrapping up, but the lessons don’t have to end here! 🏆

As we transition into the next season or summer break, it’s a great time to reflect on what worked well and where we can support our athletes with ADHD. Whether it was navigating team dynamics, managing energy levels, or building executive functioning skills on the field, every season is a learning opportunity.

Looking for ways to help your athlete thrive in their next sports adventure? Check out my on-demand course: Game On with Coach Carey: A Psychologist’s Playbook for Helping Kids with ADHD Thrive in Team Sports.

Let's keep the momentum going! Click the link in our bio to learn more. 🔗

Summer brings a welcome break, but a sudden lack of structure can quickly lead to routine fatigue and burnout for studen...
06/23/2026

Summer brings a welcome break, but a sudden lack of structure can quickly lead to routine fatigue and burnout for student-athletes. ☀️🧠

The good news? This season is the perfect opportunity to build critical sports skills and executive functions—completely stress-free. 🏆⚽
3 ways to build summer balance: 

⚡ Gamify Progress: Break development down into simple backyard challenges. 
🔄 The Focus Reset: Use quick physical outlets as a natural cognitive reset. 
🧩 Protect Downtime: Establish predictable check-ins but avoid over-scheduling.
Give your young athlete the tools to thrive both on and off the court this summer.

🚀 READY TO START? 💻 
On-Demand Course: Practical, psychologist-backed tools for parents and coaches. 
🤝 1-to-1 Coaching: Tailored strategies to build real-world emotional regulation.

🔗 Tap the Linktree link in my bio to enroll or book a private consultation today!

📍 Serving families locally in Bethesda, MD, and remotely worldwide.


Team sports are incredible for building self-esteem and social skills in kids with ADHD. But let’s face it: the athletic...
06/18/2026

Team sports are incredible for building self-esteem and social skills in kids with ADHD. But let’s face it: the athletic setting also introduces hidden, high-stress hurdles. 🧠⚽

Long periods of waiting on the bench, complicated multi-step instructions, and sudden high-pressure transitions can easily overwhelm a neurodivergent brain—frequently leading to intense frustration and game-day meltdowns. 🛑😤

If you are a Parent trying to help your child navigate these emotional waves, or a Coach looking for concrete strategies to keep your neurodivergent players focused and less disruptive, you don’t have to guess your way through it.

I help you understand the executive function challenges behind these moments and give you actionable tools that turn field struggles into life-long wins. 🏟️➡️📚

🚀 TAKE ACTION TODAY:
💻 On-Demand Course: Get instant, anytime access to my digital course built specifically to equip parents and youth coaches with concrete ADHD sports frameworks.
🤝 1-to-1 Performance Sessions: Explore private coaching tailored specifically to your child’s or team’s unique executive function and focus needs.

🔗 Tap the Linktree link in my bio to enroll in the course or schedule a private 1-to-1 consultation!

Managing a successful youth sports league isn’t just about scheduling games—it’s about equipping your coaches and staff ...
06/16/2026

Managing a successful youth sports league isn’t just about scheduling games—it’s about equipping your coaches and staff with the tools they need to run efficient, high-impact practices. 🏟️📋

When coaches struggle to keep young players engaged during drills or handle high-pressure game-day moments, overall efficiency drops, team morale suffers, and communication with parents becomes stressful.

I offer specialized Talks, Workshops, and Staff Trainings designed specifically for youth sports leagues and organizations. By bridging the gap between sports coaching and behavioral strategy, I help your staff:

⚡ Boost Player Engagement: Keep focus high, even during long or repetitive drills.

😤 Manage Emotional Regulation: Help young athletes navigate game-day pressure and setbacks constructively.

📋 Streamline Operations: Improve general team organization and build strong, friction-free relationships with parents.

📅 FALL 2026 BOOKINGS NOW OPEN: I am currently scheduling live speaking sessions, interactive clinics, and staff workshops for the upcoming season. Let’s work together to elevate your league’s impact and make this your best season yet!

📥 How to book: Send me a DM here on Instagram, send me an email or use the link in my bio to request a speaker session or training date for your organization.

06/12/2026

⚾ Want Your Child to Practice More? Stop Dictating, Start Collaborating! ⚾
Constant nagging to “go practice” only creates pressure and friction in your relationship with your child. In theory, kids want to get better at their sport—but they don’t always connect the dots between repetitive practice and actual improvement.
If you want them to stay motivated, it’s time to change the strategy.
💡 3 Steps to Build a Better Practice Routine
* Make It Fun: The more enjoyable the activity, the more likely they are to stick with it.
* Set Micro-Goals: Keep it super simple. A structured routine could just be 5 minutes of throwing a ball against a rebounder or 10 minutes of hitting off a tee.
* Plan Together: Sit down with your child, explore what they are actually interested in, and write a plan together. If you just hand them a schedule, they won’t follow it.
🎯 Find What Motivates Them
Is it getting extra one-on-one bonding time with you? Is it earning a small reward? Figure out what makes the routine click for your child and your family, and keep doing it.
At the end of the day, youth sports should be fun. When kids enjoy the process, they stay motivated, improve their skills, and build a lifelong love for the game.
👇 Drop a comment below: What is one micro-goal you and your child can set together this week?
PracticeRoutine CoachingTips ParentingHacks

Too much chatter on the sideline? It happens to the best of us. But if you find your players are getting "analysis paral...
06/11/2026

Too much chatter on the sideline? It happens to the best of us. But if you find your players are getting "analysis paralysis" from all the verbal feedback, try flipping the script.

Visual cues cut through the noise.

They offer instant feedback that is:
Objective: The visual marker doesn't lie or get frustrated.
Immediate: The player sees it the second they look up.
Actionable: It tells them exactly where to go or what to do without needing a sentence.
Whether it’s a diagram on a clipboard, a visual target on the field, or even just a hand signal that means "check your stance," visual tools help keep the game moving.

Save this post for your next practice and try replacing one verbal correction with a visual one. See what happens.

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