Why Kids Need Support From Someone Who Isn’t You

It can be really confusing to watch your child struggle in their sport when you are trying so hard to help. You care. You see how much it matters to them. So you encourage them, ask questions, and try to give advice that you think will help. But sometimes, that help does not land the way you expect. I talk to a lot of parents who feel stuck. They are doing everything they can to support their athlete, but their child seems more stressed, more frustrated, or less motivated. What feels like support to a parent can start to feel like pressure to the athlete. In this episode, I explain why this happens. As kids get older, especially in their teen years, they start to separate from their parents. Even kind and calm comments can feel heavier than they used to. Athletes may start to worry about disappointing their parents, even when no one is saying anything negative. When parents try harder to help, athletes often feel more pressure instead of less. That pressure can make it harder to enjoy the sport and harder to perform well. This does not mean parents are doing anything wrong. It just means the relationship changes as kids grow. Athletes still need support, but not all of it can come from their parents. What parents can give is safety, calm, and love that does not change based on how a meet or game goes. In this episode, you will hear • Why helping more can sometimes make things worse • How growing up changes what support feels like • Why pressure can lower confidence • What parents can do instead In this week’s episode of the PerformHappy Podcast, I talk about why help can start to feel like pressure and how parents can support their athletes in a healthier way. Learn exactly what to say and do to guide your athlete through a mental block with my new book "Parenting Through Mental Blocks" Order your copy today: Follow me on Instagram: Join my FaceBook page: Check out my website: Write to me! Email: rebecca@completeperformancecoaching.com Ready to help your athlete overcome fears and mental blocks while gaining unstoppable confidence? Discover the transformative power of PerformHappy now. If your athlete is struggling or feeling left behind, it's time for a change. Are you ready? For more info and to sign up: PerformHappy.com

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Why Kids Need Support From Someone Who Isn’t You is an episode from PerformHappy with Rebecca Smith by Kelvin Nichols.

This episode is 14:23 long.

This episode was published on Jan 13, 2026.

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