You may not be on the field, but you have more power than you think.
Teen athletes hear a lot of voices—coaches, teammates, social media, their own inner critics. But one of the strongest voices that shapes their confidence? Yours. As a parent, what you say (and how you say it) matters more than you realize.
Here are three simple but powerful things you can say today to help your athlete build unshakable confidence.
💬 1. “I love watching you play.”
That’s it. Not “you played great.” Not “I wish you’d scored.” Just:
“I love watching you play.”
This phrase tells your teen that your love and support are not conditional on performance. It builds a foundation of psychological safety—which, according to research, is one of the top drivers of athlete growth and long-term motivation.
When teens feel safe to fail, they try harder and take more meaningful risks.
💬 2. “What do you think went well?”
After games or practices, it’s tempting to give advice. But instead of starting with critique or corrections, flip the script and ask your teen to self-reflect first. This builds self-awareness, encourages ownership, and shows that you trust their perspective.
Follow-up with:
“Anything you’d do differently next time?”
This keeps the conversation open and constructive—without putting pressure on them.
💬 3. “You’re more than an athlete.”
Teens often tie their worth to performance. A bad game becomes “I’m terrible.” A benching becomes “I’m not good enough.” You can interrupt that mindset with one sentence:
“I love how hard you’re working.”
“I admire how you support your teammates.”
“You’re learning life skills that will take you far—on and off the field.”
Remind them they are valuable beyond the scoreboard. That’s where true confidence comes from.
🧠 Bonus Tip: Use Affirmations Together
We offer a growing collection of positive affirmations for both teen athletes and their parents. If you’re not sure what to say—or want to build a daily confidence ritual together—start with these.
A few minutes of positive self-talk each day can shift everything.
💡 Final Word:
You don’t need to coach. You just need to show up.
When parents create a calm, supportive space outside of the game, athletes are more likely to grow inside of it. Confidence doesn’t start on the field—it starts at home.
