When does pushing your child help them grow, and when does it start taking the joy out of the game?
In Episode 11 of the Parenting Athletes Podcast, Alex Compton and Kevin Dalafu talk about burnout in young athletes and the pressure that can slowly turn a sport a child loves into something they no longer want to do.
Drawing from their experiences as athletes, coaches, and dads, they explore how sports parents can recognize possible signs of burnout, understand the difference between being tired and losing motivation, and create space for kids to reconnect with the joy that brought them to sports in the first place.
They also discuss athlete identity, balancing standards with age and development, learning to love the process, and knowing when a young athlete may simply need room to breathe.
Topics discussed:
- Recognizing early signs of burnout in young athletes
- The difference between normal fatigue and losing motivation
- How pressure can turn a loved sport into an obligation
- Athlete identity and self-worth tied to performance
- Balancing standards with age and development
- Helping kids reconnect with the joy of the game
