Mental Health in Youth Sports: What We’re Missing
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to pause and remind ourselves (clubs, teams, coaches, parents, players) why it matters to have real conversations, listen when someone needs support, and prioritize what often gets overlooked. In youth sports, mental health and mental skills still don’t get the attention they deserve.
As the game evolves, especially in women’s athletics like soccer, so does the pressure. And even though opportunities for youth athletes have never been so great, so are the expectations.
We’re now seeing 14, 15, and 16 year-olds turning pro. It’s truly incredible and inspiring. It shows youth athletes what is possible. It fuels the future of women’s sports, because having role models is powerful. For me, having mentors who were professional athletes made a huge difference and impact in pushing through adversity and reaching my goals.
But here’s what we’re still not talking about enough or acting on, the mental side of the journey. Today, with social media, highlight reels and rankings, today’s youth athletes are exposed to what others are doing on a daily basis. Comparison is not just happening on the pitch anymore; it happens every time we scroll social media and the internet. Coaches, parents, and clubs really need to have conversations about this more. Comparison fosters the desire to do better and can motivate, but unmonitored and unchecked, it can also chip away at a youth athlete’s self-worth and confidence.
We must help athletes recognize the difference between being motivated by someone else and feeling "less than" because their path looks different. I still catch myself doing this ever so often. It probably will never totally stop. Yet, I’ve been taught and have learned to recognize it and check in with myself. I’ve worked with mental skills coaches and athletes (mentors) at high levels who’ve given me tools to manage it.
One of my favorite quotes and something used often in the world of sports, “pressure is a privilege,” and yes, it can drive performance and build resilience. But without the right tools and/or supports, it can also overwhelm. Mental skills like emotional regulation, self-talk, focus, and mindset training are just as important as a youth athlete’s physical development.
May is a great time to reflect on this, but mental health shouldn’t be a topic we make a focus point once a year. These conversations need to be year-round.
Mental skills training should be built into every team’s and club’s program. Talking about pressure, identity, failure, and growth should be the norm, not something we only bring up when things go wrong. Mental health isn’t a crisis-only conversation, it’s part of consistent, whole-athlete development.
Supporting the next generation of athletes means caring about their whole selves, not just their stats.
Let’s make space for that.
Aubs