Helping High School Athletes Cope with Performance Pressure
By high school, many athletes feel the weight of expectations—on the field, in the classroom, and in their social lives. Whether it’s trying to earn a starting spot, impress a coach, or maintain good grades, the pressure can build quickly. And when teens start tying their self-worth to performance, it can lead to stress, anxiety, or burnout.
One way to support your athlete at home is to shift conversations away from results and toward effort, preparation, and emotional check-ins. After a game or practice, try asking: “What felt good out there?” or “What challenged you today, and how did you handle it?” These kinds of questions help your athlete focus on growth instead of perfection.
Breathing techniques and mindfulness practices can also be incredibly effective in helping teens manage stress. A simple grounding exercise—like taking three slow breaths before a big moment—can make a real difference in how they respond to pressure. We use tools like this at our camps and team sessions to help athletes regulate their nervous systems and build mental resilience.
At Beyond Sticks, we also work to normalize pressure and mistakes as part of the growth journey. You can do this at home by reminding your athlete that it’s okay to struggle and that pressure is a sign they care. Help them reframe it as something they can learn to move through—not something to avoid. The more we give them permission to feel pressure and offer tools to handle it, the more resilient they become.
Each summer, we bring in trusted mentors—coaches who work at the college level and truly understand the demands of high-level performance. They’ve experienced the same pressure many of our athletes are facing, and they offer real-life perspective, encouragement, and strategies to cope. These mentors help reinforce a powerful message: pressure is real, but it doesn’t have to control you. With support, perspective, and consistent practice, it can even become a source of fuel.
Supporting your high school athlete starts with small, steady conversations and a reminder that their worth isn't tied to wins or losses. When they learn how to stay grounded, they show up more confident—not just in sports, but in life.
Want to surround your athlete with positive coaching and powerful life tools this summer?