The Key Role Parents Play in Supporting Their Athlete

Join Us for a FREE Zoom Webinar! March 27, 2025 6:30pm (CST)

"Supporting Your Child Before, During, and After Competition"

If you're looking for actionable insights and tools to better support your young athlete, we have the perfect opportunity for you! We’re excited to announce an upcoming workshop titled "Supporting Your Child Before, During, and After Competition," hosted by performance coach and two-time Olympian, Kate Ziegler.

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When it comes to supporting young athletes, parents play an indispensable role that goes far beyond cheering from the sidelines. They provide emotional stability, guidance, and motivation that can have a lasting impact on their child’s development, both on and off the field. While the spotlight often shines on coaches and athletes themselves, it's the parental influence that frequently determines whether an athlete thrives or becomes disillusioned with sports altogether.

The Unwavering Support Athletes Need

Take the story of Emily, a 16-year-old soccer player I worked with. From a young age, her parents, Mark and Sarah, supported her every step of the way. Whether it was waking up early for training, driving her to weekend tournaments, or helping her balance the responsibilities of school and sport, they were always there, in the background, giving her the unwavering support she needed.

One day, after a particularly tough loss, Emily came home in tears. She was devastated, feeling like she had let her teammates down and questioning her abilities. Mark sat with her, quietly listening. He didn't immediately offer advice or try to "fix" the situation. Instead, he simply said, “Emily, no matter the score or how you played, we are proud of you. We love you for who you are, not for what you achieve. You're our daughter, not just an athlete.”

This moment exemplified a powerful yet often overlooked truth: the most important thing parents can offer their athletes is unconditional love. In an environment where performance is often the main focus, parents who emphasize self-worth beyond the scoreboard can help their children develop resilience and a healthy perspective on sports and life.

The Importance of Parental Involvement

Research supports the idea that positive parental involvement is a crucial element in the development of young athletes. Athletes whose parents are actively involved in their sporting life are more likely to have higher levels of motivation, greater enjoyment of the sport, and lower levels of anxiety and stress. Moreover, these athletes tend to stay involved in sports longer, which can lead to greater long-term physical, mental, and emotional benefits.

However, there is a fine line between supportive involvement and overbearing behavior. Parents can sometimes unintentionally place undue pressure on their children to succeed, often with the best of intentions. Studies also show that parental pressure, particularly when it leads to high expectations, can contribute to burnout and a decline in mental well-being. Finding a balance between supporting your child’s athletic aspirations and respecting their autonomy is key to fostering a healthy sporting experience.

Tips for Parents to Support Their Young Athletes

1. Prioritize Unconditional Love and Support

Athletes face a tremendous amount of internal and external pressure, frequently fearing that their worth is tied solely to wins. As Mark’s words to Emily demonstrate, parents should remind their athletes that their love and pride do not hinge on performance. Emphasizing unconditional support encourages athletes to focus on personal growth, enjoyment, and the lessons learned through sport, rather than solely on outcomes like wins or losses. 

Remember: Your child’s self-worth should never be tied to their athletic achievements. Remind them regularly that “No matter the score or how you played, we are proud of you. We love you for who you are, not for what you achieve.”

2. Foster a Growth Mindset

Encourage a growth mindset, the belief that abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work. Celebrate effort, improvement, and resilience, not just success. When an athlete faces setbacks—like an injury, poor performance, or a team loss—parents can help them re-frame challenges as opportunities to learn and grow. This mindset reduces fear of failure and helps athletes persevere through difficulties.

3. Be a Role Model

Young athletes often look up to their parents not only for guidance but as examples of how to conduct themselves. Whether it’s showing respect for coaches and teammates, demonstrating perseverance in the face of adversity, or maintaining a positive attitude, parents have the power to model behavior that athletes can emulate. Practicing good sportsmanship, kindness, and resilience in your own life encourages your child to do the same.

4. Create a Balance Between Sports and Life

While being dedicated to a sport can teach discipline and resilience, it's equally important for young athletes to have time for other activities, including school, friendships, and downtime. Parents should encourage a balanced approach that prioritizes not just athletic success but also personal well-being. Over-scheduling can lead to burnout, so help your athlete find time to relax and engage in other aspects of life (we know - easier said than done!), which can, in turn, improve their focus and performance in sports.

5. Know When to Step Back

Sometimes the best way to support an athlete is to step back and allow them to take the lead. Trust your child’s instincts, encourage them to advocate for themselves, and give them the space to make their own decisions about their sport. Whether it’s dealing with a coach or deciding how much time to dedicate to practice, giving your child ownership over their athletic journey can foster independence and self-confidence.

The Bottom Line: Love and Support First

As we saw in Emily’s story, the role of a parent goes far beyond cheering at games or funding a travel team. A parent’s primary role is to provide love, emotional support, and guidance through both victories and defeats. It’s about helping athletes develop the confidence to face challenges, the resilience to overcome setbacks, and the awareness that their value is not determined by their athletic accomplishments.

Ultimately, supporting your athlete is about creating an environment where they can thrive—not just as competitors, but as well-rounded individuals. By fostering unconditional love, encouraging a growth mindset, being a positive role model, maintaining balance, and knowing when to step back, parents can make all the difference in shaping the next generation of athletes.

We hope to see you at the workshop and look forward to helping you become the best support system your child can have!

Join Us for a FREE Zoom Webinar! March 27, 2025 6:30pm (CST)

"Supporting Your Child Before, During, and After Competition"

If you're looking for actionable insights and tools to better support your young athlete, we have the perfect opportunity for you! We’re excited to announce an upcoming workshop titled "Supporting Your Child Before, During, and After Competition," hosted by performance coach and two-time Olympian, Kate Ziegler.

Kate brings a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of what it takes to thrive in competitive sports. In this workshop, you’ll learn practical strategies for supporting your child at each stage of competition—from pre-competition preparation to handling nerves during the event, and how to provide the right kind of post-competition support to keep your athlete motivated and mentally healthy. Kate’s insights will equip you with the tools to foster a positive environment that encourages growth, resilience, and long-term enjoyment of sports, no matter the outcome.

Whether your child is just starting out in sports or competing at a high level, this workshop will offer valuable tips for parents looking to enhance their support in a meaningful way. You won’t want to miss it!

Click Here to Register