Day: February 16, 2026

As the parent of a young athlete, you may already have thought: “They are motivated, they work hard, they want to succeed.” And that's true. But there is a more subtle and often invisible reality: a young person can seem very motivated… while playing under pressure. A quieter pressure: the need to make you proud. And when that shift sets in, enjoyment drops, anxiety rises and motivation becomes fragile. Not necessarily today. But over time.