Tryout Prep: What Kids Really Need from Parents

Tryouts aren’t just for the players—they’re for us parents too.

It’s a high-pressure week. The stakes feel high. We want our kids to succeed, to be seen, to make the team. But what they really need from us isn’t sideline pressure or perfect advice.

They need belief.

They need calm.

They need space to try, to stumble, and to rise again.

This week, my 10-year-old reminded me that the fear of not being “the best” can hold him back more than any missed pass or mistake. He wants to be great—so badly—that sometimes, he forgets he’s allowed to mess up on the way there.

My dad told me something years ago that’s always stuck:

When players start doubting themselves, he tells them to change their mindset by only summarizing the good things they did—at practice or in a game.

If they start with the negatives? He’ll say, “Nope—tell me the good stuff.”

Try it after tryouts this week:

When your kid climbs into the car, ask them to name three things they did well.

That shift in focus—just a few positives—can boost their confidence and rewire their inner voice.

Because no matter what team they make—or don’t—what matters most is that they walk off the field believing in themselves. And that belief? It often starts with us.