Unsolicited Advice Part 4 - Are you pushing too hard?

As a parent and coach, I hold my athletes to the highest standards of effort. This past summer, I spent countless hours on the basketball court and football field with my two sons. As you can imagine, it was a full spectrum of emotions: high fives, tears, yelling, and big smiles.

Even with over 16 years of guiding players and navigating these exact conversations with parents, I still catch myself wondering if I am asking too much or pushing my own kids too hard.

Instead of asking generic questions that lead to scripted answers, like "Do you want to be good?" or "Do you still want this?", I started asking two deeper questions to gauge where my kids' minds and hearts really are.

If you ever struggle with the same doubts, try asking your child:

1. Do you enjoy the game when you are playing well?

2. Do you enjoy the game when you are not playing well?

   
   

If the answer is "yes" to both, you are in a great place. But if they hesitate or say "no" to either, it may be a sign to ease up before they lose their love for the game entirely.