How Parents Can Support Their Child’s Mental Game
As a parent of a young athlete, you want the best for your child. You celebrate their wins, encourage them through losses, and make sure they have everything they need to succeed.
But while physical training and skills development are important, there’s one area where parents can make a huge impact—their child’s mental game.
A strong mindset helps young athletes:
✅ Handle pressure
✅ Build confidence
✅ Stay motivated
✅ Bounce back from setbacks
So, how can you support your child’s mental toughness without adding extra pressure? Let’s dive in.
1. Focus on Effort Over Outcome 🎯
It’s natural to want your child to win, but constantly focusing on results can create unnecessary pressure. Instead, shift your focus to effort and growth.
❌ Avoid this: “Why didn’t you win?”
✅ Try this instead: “I loved how hard you worked out there!”
When kids know their effort matters more than the score, they stay motivated and resilient.
2. Help Them Build Confidence (Without False Praise) 💪
Confidence isn’t about telling your child “You’re the best!”—it’s about helping them believe in their abilities through preparation and self-trust.
🎯 How you can help:
- Encourage them to focus on their strengths
- Help them reflect on what they did well after games
- Teach them that confidence comes from preparation, not just talent
Instead of saying, “You’ll win for sure,” try:
👉 “You’ve trained hard, and you’re ready to give it your best.”
This keeps confidence realistic and grounded.
3. Teach Them How to Handle Mistakes ❌➡️✅
Every athlete makes mistakes—it’s part of the game. The key is how they respond.
❌ Wrong approach:
“You need to stop messing up!” (Creates fear of failure)
✅ Better approach:
“Mistakes help you improve—what did you learn from that play?” (Encourages growth)
Reframing mistakes as learning moments helps kids develop a growth mindset, making them more resilient under pressure.
4. Encourage a Pre-Game Routine ⏳
Many young athletes struggle with pre-game nerves. One of the best ways to help? Encourage them to develop a pre-game routine that includes:
🧘♂️ Deep breathing to calm their nerves
💭 Visualisation to picture success
🎧 Music that puts them in the zone
A consistent routine helps kids feel prepared and in control, rather than overwhelmed by pressure.
5. Let Them Own Their Sport 👏
One of the biggest mistakes parents make (without meaning to) is taking too much control over their child’s sport.
🚫 Avoid:
- Over-coaching from the sidelines
- Criticising their performance after every game
- Forcing them to play when they don’t want to
✅ Instead, let them take ownership:
- Ask: “What do YOU want to improve?”
- Support their passion without making it about you
- Remind them: Sport should be fun!
When kids feel in control of their journey, they stay more motivated and committed.
6. Model a Positive Mindset Yourself 🏆
Kids absorb everything. If you stay positive, handle setbacks well, and focus on growth, they will too.
✔ Show good sportsmanship—no blaming refs or bad calls
✔ Stay calm and supportive, even after tough losses
✔ Let them see you working on your own goals, too
Your attitude sets the tone for how they handle challenges in sport (and life).
7. Provide the Right Kind of Post-Game Support 🎙️
What you say after a game matters more than you think.
📌 Best thing you can say?
👉 “I loved watching you play.”
This keeps the focus on their enjoyment and effort, rather than pressure to impress you.
❌ What to avoid?
- Overanalyzing the game immediately after
- Critiquing their mistakes
- Comparing them to other players
If they want to talk about the game, let them lead the conversation. If not, just be a supportive presence.
Help Your Child Train Their Mind Like a Pro!
If you want to learn more about building mental toughness, confidence, and resilience in young athletes, check out our courses featuring:
🎥 Videos from real athlete mentors
📄 Downloadable resources to help with mental training
❓ Interactive quizzes to test their mindset skills