Expert Responses
We received six expert responses from Youth Coach Advisory Group members
Cat Ruesch, Sue Ryan, Lora Grahleer, Carmie Landeen, Danielle Fagan, and Dai Redwood.
I’d encourage you to remind her that life is really about learning to balance things, not about getting it perfect. It’s okay for her to stumble or feel stretched, that’s part of the process. But it’s also so important that she understands her worth isn’t tied to how well she manages it all. Her identity is not defined by her ability to “do it all,” whether that’s in the classroom, on the field, or anywhere else.
Encourage her to prioritize her education. The reality is, when the game eventually ends, and it will one day she’ll still have her mind, her work ethic, and her ability to think critically. Those are the things that will carry her forward. If that ever means making a hard call, like skipping practice because she has an important project or assignment, that’s okay. In fact, that teaches her that balance sometimes means saying no to one thing so she can show up fully for another.
Most importantly, let her know that your priority is her the person she is beyond the game, beyond grades, beyond performance. Show her that your commitment is to her success and well-being, whatever that looks like. Whether she’s excelling, struggling, or somewhere in between, what matters most is that she knows she’s supported, loved, and believed in for who she is, not just what she does.
Find Cat’s response useful?
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