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Are You Pushing Too Hard? The Parent-Coach Shift Every Young Athlete Needs

Ever catch yourself holding your breath after your kid strikes out? Or replaying every missed pitch on the car ride home? If you’ve ever wondered, “Am I helping—or hurting?” you’re not alone. Today’s ultra-competitive youth sports scene has parents unintentionally placing invisible weights on their young athletes. In this powerful episode of the Swing Smarter Hitting Training Podcast, Joey Myers breaks down how to shift from pressure to partnership—so your athlete grows with confidence, not anxiety.

Key Insights & Actionable Takeaways:

⚾ The Silent Pressure Parents Don’t Realize They’re Applying

It’s not just the loud coaching that stings—it’s the subtle cues. A sigh, a clenched jaw, or even a too-quiet ride home can speak volumes.
As Dr. Brett McCabe warns: “The worst thing for a kid is to feel like their performance equals their value to you.”

💡 The “Pressure-to-Partnership” Parent Playbook

Collaborative Goal Setting: Ask, “What would make today feel like a win for you?”—and really listen.
The 24-Hour Rule: Hold off on any post-game analysis for 24 hours to allow emotions to settle.
Permission-Based Coaching: Respect your athlete’s readiness—ask if they want feedback before offering it.

🧠 A Confidence-Building Drill That Works

Reverse Feedback Loop: Post-game, have your child reflect on:
- One thing they did well
- One thing they want to improve
- One thing they enjoyed
Then… just read it. Don’t coach it. Let their voice lead the conversation.

🧘‍♂️ Lessons from Sports Psychology

Dr. Carol Dweck’s insight: “Kids grow more when they feel safe to fail.”
True athletic growth happens when the environment nurtures effort over outcome and character over stats.

🥇 Real-World Parenting Shift

One parent discovered their son enjoyed baseball more when they simply chatted about Marvel movies post-game. When connection replaced correction, performance improved—along with joy.

🔗 Internal Linking Suggestions:

Ready to shift from overthinking to empowering?

🎙️ Listen to the full episode now →

You’ll walk away with simple, science-backed ways to support your child—on the field and beyond.

Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a fellow sports parent who cares.

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Joey Myers

Author at Hitting Performance Lab

Welcome to HittingPerformanceLab.com, where passion meets expertise. As the founder and author, I've crafted over 400 captivating blog posts and authored the Amazon bestselling book "Catapult Loading System," guiding small hitters to drive the ball consistently over 300 feet.

With 28,000+ online bat speed program sales, my methods have transformed coaches, instructors, and parents just like you. I'm affiliated with esteemed organizations like ABCA, IYCA, and SABR, advocating for positive coaching. With 15+ years in corrective fitness and a Division One baseball background, my knowledge is unmatched.

Join our blog and unlock the secrets to successful hitting, elevate your performance, and ignite your passion. Welcome to the world of limitless possibilities at HittingPerformanceLab.com.