A dominant trend within my industry revolves around the inadvertent detrimental influence of parents on their children’s athletic endeavors. What concerns me the most is the frequent disregard or reluctance to address this issue, allowing the harmful conduct, unattainable standards, and intense pressure imposed by these parents to significantly contribute to heightened mental health challenges among young athletes.

While I am very concerned about this trend, I see it as an incredible opportunity and responsibility to share my knowledge, experience and expertise.  My aim is to assist others in acquiring the necessary tools and skills to effectively support their young athletes’ in a healthy way.

There is a growing trend across the nation where an increasing number of athletes are experiencing mental challenges within their sport.  This is leading to a high rate of athletes quitting at a young age, and many feel they lack support.  However, there is optimism that more people are committing to providing education and support to parents, athletes and coaches in navigating this constantly evolving landscape.

As a coach, I listen to personal stories from athletes, teams, coaching staff and parent groups every day.  It’s concerning that 95% of the young athletes I coach feel unsupported both during competitions and in their personal lives. In coaching seminars, it’s evident that many coaches lack the knowledge base and tools to effectively instruct their players on managing their emotions and consistently perform at a high level. Following a recent parent workshop, it became apparent that we all share a common goal, yet not all of us possess the necessary tools in our arsenal to support our children in a holistic and healthy manner.