Does your child dread big games? Do they replay mistakes for days, freeze under pressure, or come home from practice in tears — and you don't know what to say?
This guide was written for you.
Raising the Anxious Athlete gives parents and coaches the tools, language, and understanding needed to support the whole child — not just the player. From the car ride home to the hard conversation with the coach, from performance anxiety to burnout, from the pressure to be perfect to the moment your child says they want to quit — this guide meets you where you actually are.
What's inside:
A plain-language explanation of performance anxiety, rumination, and how anxiety shows up differently at every age
Honest reflection on what parents sometimes do without realizing it — and specific language to use instead
The car ride rule, pregame communication, and what to say during a slump or a hard season
A chapter on psychological safety and why your child's confidence on the court or field starts at home
An age-by-age guide to appropriate coaching — and what is never acceptable at any age
A research-backed look at the parent-coach relationship, the investment both sides make, and how to make it work
Guidance on learning differences, scheduling, academics during competition season, and burnout for both athletes and parents
A section-by-section guide to using The Anxious Athlete workbook alongside your child
Reflection prompts, burnout assessments, and a tear-out letter to write to your child
Anxiety is something your child experiences. It is not who they are. And your presence, your words, and your awareness matter more than any coach, any drill, or any trophy ever will.
Does your child dread big games? Do they replay mistakes for days, freeze under pressure, or come home from practice in tears — and you don't know what to say?
This guide was written for you.
Raising the Anxious Athlete gives parents and coaches the tools, language, and understanding needed to support the whole child — not just the player. From the car ride home to the hard conversation with the coach, from performance anxiety to burnout, from the pressure to be perfect to the moment your child says they want to quit — this guide meets you where you actually are.
What's inside:
A plain-language explanation of performance anxiety, rumination, and how anxiety shows up differently at every age
Honest reflection on what parents sometimes do without realizing it — and specific language to use instead
The car ride rule, pregame communication, and what to say during a slump or a hard season
A chapter on psychological safety and why your child's confidence on the court or field starts at home
An age-by-age guide to appropriate coaching — and what is never acceptable at any age
A research-backed look at the parent-coach relationship, the investment both sides make, and how to make it work
Guidance on learning differences, scheduling, academics during competition season, and burnout for both athletes and parents
A section-by-section guide to using The Anxious Athlete workbook alongside your child
Reflection prompts, burnout assessments, and a tear-out letter to write to your child
Anxiety is something your child experiences. It is not who they are. And your presence, your words, and your awareness matter more than any coach, any drill, or any trophy ever will.
