Parents of Athletes: What Do You Really Think About Mental Training?

Mental training in youth sports is no longer optional. It’s necessary. Yet ask ten different parents of athletes about it, and you’ll get ten different reactions, ranging from enthusiastic support to complete skepticism.

If you're a sports parent, you've probably already thought about your athlete’s physical training, private coaching, club schedules, and performance. But what about their mindset? Their confidence? Their ability to bounce back after a mistake?

Let’s talk about it.

Mental Training: Mindset Coaching or Marketing Gimmick?

Some parents view mental training as a luxury. Others see it as a lifeline. What’s clear is that the rise in pressure, burnout, and early recruiting has created a mental load that many young athletes are unequipped to handle.

But the reaction from parents is mixed:

• "Absolutely worth it, mental strength is what separates good from great."

• "I’m skeptical, feels like another way to drain money from families."

• "Useful, but people wait until there’s a crisis to consider it."

And that last one is worth sitting with. Most parents don’t treat mental training as prevention. They treat it like rehab. Something to do after there’s a problem.

The Shift: Mental Skills Are Athletic Skills

The best athletes, at any level, train their minds like they train their bodies. That includes:

• Visualization: Mentally rehearsing plays or outcomes before they happen.

• Resetting after failure: Learning how to quickly bounce back after a mistake.

• Staying focused under pressure: Blocking out distractions and sticking to the moment.

• Confidence building: Reinforcing belief through preparation and positive self-talk.

• Emotional regulation: Managing nerves, frustration, and highs or lows effectively.

So why aren’t more youth sports parents making this part of their athlete’s foundation from the start?

Cost is one reason. So is lack of awareness. And let’s be honest, some parents still believe that pushing harder is the only mental strategy kids need.

But here’s what we’ve learned: the most successful athletes have support systems that value mental edge just as much as physical strength.

Mental Toughness Is a Skill, Not a Trait

Your child isn’t born mentally tough or weak. They build resilience through:

• Experiences: Being put in competitive, emotional, or high-stakes situations.

• Reps: Practicing mental strategies consistently, not just once.

• Coaching: Having someone guide their mindset and habits, just like a strength coach.

• Reflection: Taking time to review performances and reactions honestly.

Hiring a mental coach doesn’t mean your athlete is broken. It means you’re building a stronger version of them from the inside out. One parent said it best:

"Pitching is mentally taxing. Having a mental edge helps in my daughter’s success."

Another shared:

"Mental fortitude is 70% of any sport. We started doing it with our kids, and I can already see the difference."

The Skeptic’s View: Is It Worth It?

We get it. The youth sports space is full of overpriced programs and fake gurus. One parent said:

"I’m conditioned against the hucksters trying to separate softball parents from their money."

That’s a valid concern.

But mental training doesn’t always have to cost hundreds of dollars a session. Books, audio programs, team-based mindset activities, there are accessible ways to introduce these tools.

One highly recommended resource is Brian Cain’s peak performance system. Several parents credit his approach with giving them the structure they needed to implement mindset tools at home or on the field.

What Mental Coaches Do (When They’re Legit)

A credible mental coach doesn’t just recite motivational quotes. They:

• Help athletes prepare under pressure: Teach strategies to stay composed and confident when the stakes are high.

• Teach pre-performance routines: Develop rituals to lock in focus before games or practices.

• Develop confidence through practice and feedback: Use structured drills and real-time corrections to build belief.

• Create long-term mental strategies that grow with the athlete: Lay the foundation for mindset habits that stick for years, not just one season.

As one coach shared:

"I started mental training at 14 and became a two-time D1 national champion. Then I coached my brother, he won too. Mental training changed everything."

What Parents of Athletes Can Do Now

You don’t need to become a certified sports psychologist to support your child’s mental game. Start with these:

• Normalize failure as part of the process

• Stop over-reacting to bad performances

• Help them set short-term, controllable goals

• Encourage gratitude, reflection, and resets

• Don’t tie their identity to wins and losses

Let’s Be Honest: Do You Really Know If Your Athlete Has What It Takes?

If you’re questioning how mentally ready your child really is, we built something for you. It’s a free guide titled Do You Really Have The #1 Athlete?

It walks parents through the signs of emotional readiness, resilience, and long-term potential, without the fluff. Download it free and get clear about where your athlete really stands.

HCHA Final Words for Youth Sports Parents

Being mentally strong isn’t about being perfect. It’s about preparation. It’s about perspective. It’s about bouncing back.

Mental training isn’t just for pros. It’s for every athlete who wants to stay in the game, grow through it, and learn who they are beyond the scoreboard.

The best time to start? Before they break.