Learn
Building Your Athlete's
Emotional Well-Being
Youth sports should build confidence, resilience, and joy — not anxiety, burnout, or fear.
No one has a greater influence on a young athlete's experience than their parents. Explore trusted guidance, expert conversations, research, and practical resources designed to help you support your athlete's emotional well-being and foster a lifelong love of sports.
A Moment to Remember
Long after the final score is forgotten, the experience your child has in sports will stay with them for life.
Why It Matters
Sports shape more than athletes — they shape people.
Youth sports can build confidence, perseverance, teamwork, and resilience. They can also introduce pressure, fear of failure, burnout, and stress.
Parents influence how those experiences are processed. The car ride home. The sideline reaction. The question asked — or not asked — at dinner. Every moment is an opportunity.
At Valiant Sports Society, we believe emotional well-being is one of the foundations of building healthier athletes — and healthier families.
of high school students reported persistent sadness or hopelessness in 2021 — up from 28% a decade earlier.
CDC, 2023
of female college athletes reported feeling overwhelmed most days.
NCAA Wellness Survey
of women in C-suite executive positions played sports — the skills built through sport last a lifetime.
EY / espnW Study
from the Be Valiant Library
It felt like the end. I had this whole mindset built up of 'it is your everything, it is your world.' And then all of a sudden, not having that anymore — it's just a blank space with a question mark in front of your face.
Sydney Merkow
Youth Athlete & Pilates Instructor
Be Valiant · Season 1 · Episode 27
Explore Topics
What's on your mind?
Every topic below connects to real conversations, expert guidance, and practical resources already inside the Valiant Sports Society library.
Confidence
Building a healthy sense of self-worth through sport.
Resilience
Bouncing back from setbacks, losses, and adversity.
Anxiety & Stress
Recognizing and managing performance pressure.
Burnout
Spotting the signs before the flame goes out.
Identity
Who is your athlete beyond the sport they play?
Parent–Athlete Communication
The car ride home and every conversation around it.
Fear of Failure
Reframing mistakes as the engine of growth.
Motivation
Intrinsic vs. extrinsic — and why it matters.
Joy in Sports
Protecting the love of the game at every level.
Social Media
Managing comparison, pressure, and online identity.
from the Be Valiant Library
Their whole social, mental, emotional well-being is coming through one lane, and it's too much pressure. I asked middle schoolers how many of them ever have anxiety. Every single hand went up.
Kirsten Jones
Author, Coach & Former Nike Executive
Be Valiant · Season 1 · Episode 10
knowledge Center
Insights & Research
A Must Watch for Every Sports Parent Regarding Mental Health
The Kansas City Royals, in collaboration with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City, have produced a compelling documentary that every youth sports parent, coach, and club organization needs to see.
Great Interview from USA Today with UCLA Women's Basketball Coach
USA Today's Stephen Borelli sat down with UCLA women's basketball coach Cori Close to discuss various issues she has observed in youth sports.
'Don't Be a Helicopter Parent': Annika Sorenstam's Tips for Your Kid's Sports Experience
Golf legend and 10-time major champion Annika Sorenstam was once so shy she would intentionally lose junior tournaments to avoid speaking in public. Now a sports mom herself, she shares what she's learned about fostering independence, going with the flow, and letting kids lead their own journey.
Youth Sports Has a Hefty Price Tag. What Are You Actually Buying?
The average U.S. sports family spends over $1,000 per child per year on their primary sport — and many spend far more. But are we getting what we're paying for? A deep look at the real cost of youth sports, who gets left behind, and what we can do differently.
10 Misconceptions About Kids Sports — and How Parents Can Push Against Them
From 'winning leads to advancement' to 'you need to specialize early,' Steve Borelli breaks down the 10 most common delusions sports parents hold — and what the research actually says about each one.
Don't Forget to Call Mom: MLB Catcher Gets Candid About Sports Struggles
Baltimore Orioles catcher Maverick Handley — Stanford graduate, seven-year minor leaguer — gets refreshingly honest about burnout, self-doubt, identity, and what young athletes and their parents really need to hear.
Learn Through Conversation
Featured Be Valiant Conversations
Learn directly from the athletes, parents, coaches, physicians, researchers and leaders who are helping reshape youth sports.
The Hall of Fame Coach on Culture, Mental Health, and What It Really Takes to Raise an Athlete
Charli Turner Thorne · December 10, 2025
Transparency, Grief, and the Fight for Student Athlete Mental Health
Mark Hilinski · January 7, 2026
After the Final Whistle: Identity Loss, Anxiety & Finding Yourself Again
Sydney Merkow · May 6, 2026
Taking Back the Game
Linda Flanagan · April 22, 2026
Just Moments Together
Barry Buetel · April 15, 2026
Be Smart. Don't Be Scared.
Jonathan Carone · April 8, 2026
Trusted Resources
Continue Your Learning
These organizations provide research, support, and guidance that aligns with our mission to build healthier athletes and families.
Positive Coaching Alliance
Research-based tools and training to help coaches, parents, and administrators create a positive youth sports environment.
Visit Resource →Aspen Institute Project Play
Data-driven research on youth sports participation, health, and well-being — the most comprehensive resource in the field.
Visit Resource →National Alliance for Youth Sports
Programs and resources to make youth sports safe, fun, and positive for every child.
Visit Resource →988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Free, confidential support for people in distress. Call or text 988 anytime.
Visit Resource →National Eating Disorders Association
Support, resources, and community for individuals and families affected by eating disorders.
Visit Resource →Mental Health America
Tools, screenings, and resources to support mental health for young athletes and their families.
Visit Resource →Every Parent Can Make a Difference
Every conversation.
Every practice.
Every car ride home.
Every moment is an opportunity to help a young athlete develop confidence, resilience, and a lifelong love of sports. Explore these resources, share them with another sports family, and join us in building healthier athletes.
BE VALIANT. PLAY FEARLESS.
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