The Mental Health Crisis in Youth Sports: It’s Time for Real Change

Over the past several years, we’ve made progress in how we talk about mental health, but we’re still not where we need to be—especially in sports. Athletes are often seen as the strongest, most invincible people on the planet, almost superhuman, as if they’re immune to the struggles of everyday life.

I speak from experience. Mental health is a topic that hits close to home for me.

I was a kid who loved school and loved sports, but in 4th grade, I started getting physically sick. The problem wasn’t physical—it was mental. I was hit with a wave of anxiety that has been a part of my life ever since. For a time, it held me back from doing the things I loved. I remember wanting to quit, and avoiding new experiences out of fear. It wasn’t until my junior year of high school that I finally started to climb out of that hole.

The reason? I had the right people in my life—people who believed in me, saw what I was capable of, and helped guide me forward.

Athletes Need Support, Not Stigma

That’s the message I want to share: We are all capable of incredible things, but sometimes we can be our own worst enemy. And when that happens, we need help.

Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

In sports, we constantly talk about teamwork, culture, and accountability—how the best teams play together and lift each other up. Why should mental health be any different?

Especially in today’s world, kids face more pressure than ever.
🔹 Performance anxiety is at an all-time high because of how youth sports have become a high-stakes, win-at-all-costs system.
🔹 Social media has intensified comparison, pressure, and scrutiny.
🔹 The fear of outside opinions often prevents athletes from speaking up or seeking help.

We need to push the idea that it’s okay to not be okay and that athletes should feel comfortable talking to trusted coaches, teammates, teachers, or family members.

Sports Should Build Athletes, Not Break Them

Youth sports have shifted from a platform to teach life skills into an intensely pressurized system that prioritizes results over development. Instead of being a healthy outlet, sports have become a source of extreme stress.

Parents, coaches, and organizations need a gut check. What are we really in this for?

We’ve forgotten one of the most important lessons:
📌 “Leave it better than you found it.”

The reality is that many coaches today never faced the same pressures that modern athletes do.

• No social media magnifying every mistake.

• No monetized youth sports industry pushing year-round play and expensive training.

• No constant pressure to be ‘elite’ before you’re even a teenager.

It’s time we recognize that today’s challenges are different and that athletes need more than just physical training—they need support beyond the rink, court, or field.

The Cost of “Keeping Up” in Sports Today

The modern youth athlete’s reality is sacrificing their childhood to meet expectations.
❌ Social life? Secondary to training.
❌ Being a kid? Overshadowed by competition.
❌ Academics? Often sacrificed for sports commitments.

Gone are the days when kids could practice, play their game, and live their life outside of sports. Many young athletes are now conditioned to live and breathe their sport, constantly feeling like they’re falling behind if they don’t.

And what happens when it becomes too much? Many burn out, quit, or struggle in silence.

Coaches & Leaders: We Have a Responsibility

As a coach, I make it a priority to talk about mental health throughout the season—whether it’s with a team, small groups, or individual players.

Athletes need to know that it’s okay to talk about mental struggles. It’s okay to ask for help. In fact, it’s more common for people to struggle, most just struggle in silence. The stigma has to end.

As coaches, parents, and leaders, we have a duty to help the next generation grow—not just as athletes, but as people.

It’s time to change the culture.
📢 Mental health is real.
📢 Talking about it should be normal.
📢 Supporting athletes in ALL aspects of their development should be the priority.

Your worth is not defined by your performance in a game. You matter beyond the sport.

Final Thought: It’s Time for a Culture Shift

📲 Coaches, parents, and leaders: It’s time to step up. Mental health in sports is just as important as physical health. Let’s make sure we’re creating an environment where athletes feel safe, supported, and heard.

🔥 It’s okay to talk. It’s okay to seek help. And it’s time to change the way we support youth athletes.