The roar of the crowd fills the stadium as the star player steps up to the plate. With bases loaded and two outs, all eyes are on them to save the game. Pressure mounts. Negative thoughts creep in – “What if I mess up? Everyone is counting on me.” Performance anxiety sets in, muscles tense up, focus wavers. Suddenly that curveball looks more like a fastball…
Situations like this are all too common among young athletes today. Many face intense pressures to succeed from coaches, parents, and peers. And with the rise of year-round specialization in youth sports, there’s little time for developing proper coping tools. Is it any wonder anxiety and burnout rates are soaring among young athletes?
The Pressures Facing Young Athletes Today
– Year-round specialization in one sport from an early age
– Pressure from parents and coaches to excel
– Need to secure college scholarships/go pro
– Social media spotlight adding scrutiny
These and other pressures leave many young athletes overwhelmed and lacking resilience.
Signs of Sports-Related Anxiety in Your Child
Some behaviors that may indicate your child is struggling with anxiety:
– Avoiding practices or games
– Difficulty concentrating or focusing
– Changes in sleep or appetite
– Irritability, anger, or moodiness
– Fatigue, muscle tension, headaches
Don’t ignore these warning signs. Reach out to get your child needed support.
Building Mentally Resilient Athletes
As a parent, focus on building life skills versus sports skills:
– Encourage taking risks and learning from mistakes
– Praise effort rather than outcomes
– Model healthy approaches to stress and pressure
– Help put losses/setbacks into perspective
Teach vital coping strategies like visualization, positive self-talk, and breathing exercises. Work with coaches to promote mastery versus perfectionistic mindsets.
Creating a Supportive Environment
Coaches and parents, create affirming spaces where athletes can discuss pressures and anxieties without judgment. Don’t tie your regard for them to wins and losses. And make sure you’re modeling resilience yourself.
With empathy, education and emotional support, we can help young athletes play their mental best, whatever the scoreboard says.
If you or your young athlete is battling performance anxiety, we can help! Contact us today.
