Parents
You want the best for your child, without always knowing how to help when sport becomes demanding. The data shows how much your role matters.
What we see
Nearly half of mental disorders (48.4%) appear before the age of 18 (Solmi et al., 2022). Among elite adolescent athletes, 21.8% show moderate burnout and 9.1% severe burnout (Reardon et al., 2026).
In England, around 180 young players out of 1.5 million club players sign in the Premier League, i.e. 0.012%. Around 98% of 16-year-old scholars are no longer playing in the top five divisions at 18 (Calvin, 2017, cited by McGlinchey et al., 2022). We have not found equivalent figures for Belgium.
Among 91 young footballers aged 15 to 18, released players had more psychological distress than retained players, 7 and 21 days after the decision (Blakelock et al., 2016). Released players describe insufficient follow-up after the announcement (McGlinchey et al., 2022).
The IOC states that an excessive focus on winning and overly high expectations can contribute to anxiety, a poorer perception of one's own skills and less enjoyment of sport (Reardon et al., 2026).
More than a third of Norwegian student-athletes aged 12 to 14 in sports schools show symptoms of severe school burnout. It is more common among the older ones (Saarinen et al., 2024).
In a survey of more than 4,000 adults in Belgium and the Netherlands, 38% report psychological violence, 11% physical violence and 14% sexual violence in the sport of their childhood (Vertommen et al., 2016).
What we bring
Adapted to their age, in a space where they can speak freely.
Understanding what your child is going through, what helps them and what weighs on them.
Recognising warning signs, talking before and after a match, supporting a selection or a release.
Injury, moving up an age group, release, choosing between school and sport.
To a health professional when the situation requires it.
What remains confidential and what is shared with you.
The benefits
Signs of distress, at the age when they most often appear.
Instead of adding pressure, by avoiding an excessive focus on winning.
With reference points for the family, and a child who is not left alone with the decision.
On the same message, as recommended by the IOC (Reardon et al., 2026).
Between school and sport, to limit exhaustion.
A parent programme evaluated in Canada showed modest improvements among young athletes (Tamminen et al., 2020).
We do not promise a professional career. We help your child grow with more resources.
A clear framework
Your child needs a safe space to talk in order to move forward. The framework is clarified with you from the start, within legal and ethical limits.
Frequently asked questions
There is no strict age limit for individual support. We generally prefer to start from the age of 10, taking into account the child's maturity, needs and situation.
It depends on your child's age and the situation. The framework is agreed together at the start: some sessions may include you, others are just for your child.
Yes. Support also helps to get to know yourself better, build reference points and prepare for the stages ahead, before any difficulty arises.
It is a free 45-minute first conversation to understand the situation, your child's expectations and yours, and see together what would suit you.
Sources
Blakelock, D. J., Chen, M. A., & Prescott, T. (2016). Psychological distress in elite adolescent soccer players following deselection. Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology, 10(1), 59–77. https://doi.org/10.1123/jcsp.2015-0010
McGlinchey, T. R., Saward, C., Healy, L. C., & Sarkar, M. (2022). “From everything to nothing in a split second”: Elite youth players’ experiences of release from professional football academies. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 4, Article 941482. https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2022.941482
Reardon, C. L., Gouttebarge, V., Kroshus-Havril, E., et al. (2026). Mental health in elite athletes: International Olympic Committee consensus statement (2026). British Journal of Sports Medicine, 60(15), 1083–1130. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2025-111514
Saarinen, M., Phipps, D. J., & Bjørndal, C. T. (2024). Mental health in student-athletes in Norwegian lower secondary sport schools. BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine, 10(2), Article e001955. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjsem-2024-001955
Solmi, M., Radua, J., Olivola, M., et al. (2022). Age at onset of mental disorders worldwide: Large-scale meta-analysis of 192 epidemiological studies. Molecular Psychiatry, 27(1), 281–295. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41380-021-01161-7
Tamminen, K. A., McEwen, C. E., Kerr, G., & Donnelly, P. (2020). Examining the impact of the Respect in Sport Parent Program on the psychosocial experiences of minor hockey athletes. Journal of Sports Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2020.1767839
Vertommen, T., Schipper-van Veldhoven, N., Wouters, K., Kampen, J. K., Brackenridge, C. H., Rhind, D. J. A., Neels, K., & Van Den Eede, F. (2016). Interpersonal violence against children in sport in the Netherlands and Belgium. Child Abuse & Neglect, 51, 223–236. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2015.10.006
Discovery session · 45 minutes · free
A free 45-minute first conversation to understand your situation and see how we can support you.
