Hi Reader,
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September hits different, doesn’t it? Crisp mornings. New backpacks. The smell of fresh gear mixed with pumpkin spice. 🍂
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And if you’re a sports parent? You’re likely juggling all the things: the new schedules on the fridge, the carefully coordinated carpool arrangements, and the mental gymnastics of dinner timing around practice.
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You’ve invested so much, not just money, but time, energy, and heart. Those early Saturday mornings, the reorganization of your entire life around practice schedules, and you do it because you love your kid and want them to thrive. You want to see them light up with confidence and to feel proud of their hard work.
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But sometimes our love and support can accidentally feel like pressure. Even when we mean well. Especially when we mean well.
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​🚗 The Post-Game Car Ride: Where Good Intentions Meet Big Feelings
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​Picture this: Your athlete just finished their competition. They’re sweaty, maybe a little quiet, probably hungry, and replaying moments in their head. Their body is still buzzing from the adrenaline.
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And before they’ve even buckled their seatbelt, the questions start rolling: “What was your time?” “Why didn’t you do what we talked about?” “Did you see what your teammate did?”
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​You’re not trying to be the overbearing parent. You genuinely care and want to help them improve.
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​💙 What Your Athlete Actually Needs From You This Fall
​One of the things we hear most often from our teen clients is the desire for more space. So how do you show up as their biggest fan without accidentally becoming their biggest source of stress? Here are a few small shifts that make a massive difference:
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✅ Try the 24-hour rule. Give everyone a full day before diving into performance talk. Let the emotions settle. Let them shower, eat, sleep, and exist as a human before becoming an athlete under review.
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✅ Ask permission before offering feedback. Try this magic phrase: “Do you want to talk about the game/race, or would you rather think about something else?” This one simple question gives your athlete agency over their own processing.
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✅ Lead with curiosity, not evaluation. Instead of “Did you win?” try “What felt good out there?” or “What did you try differently today?” These process-focused questions celebrate growth over outcomes—and trust me, your kid will feel the difference.

In our parents’ guide, we break down what coaches see but won’t always say out loud, why certain well-meaning behaviors backfire, and how to create a home environment where your athlete can thrive, both in their sport and in their life.

🎙️ Podcast Catch-Up: What We’ve Been Talking About
​If you missed it, I’ve been making the podcast rounds recently, and we’ve covered some really good stuff:
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🎧 Erin Ayala: The Accidental Sports Psychologist — I sat down with the Love your Inner Athlete podcast to talk about how I stumbled into sports psychology, what it’s actually like to work with athletes, and why rest is the most underrated performance strategy.
​This ties into a fun project we have underway that’s all about supporting future sport psychologists. (More on that soon! 👀)
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​🎧 Countdown to Ötillö: 4 Months Out — If you’re into endurance sports (or just curious about the mental side of preparing for a massive race), this one’s for you. We dove into acceptance, radical acceptance, and planning for discomfort instead of fighting it.
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Both episodes are perfect for a fall run or a long drive to practice. 😉

📚 Back-to-School Reminder: Your Athlete’s Mental Health Matters Just as Much as Their Training Plan
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​As schedules ramp up and expectations rise, remember this: sport doesn’t happen in a vacuum.
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Your athlete is balancing all the things: school stress, friend drama, physical demands, homework deadlines, and everything happening in the world around them.
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When we compartmentalize and expect them to “leave it all off the field,” we’re setting them up to struggle. And you might be feeling the pressure too. 🤯
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That’s exactly why we offer dedicated parent sessions because supporting your athlete starts with supporting you. When you have the tools to navigate your own anxiety and expectations, everyone benefits.
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At Skadi, we work with athletes and their families holistically because we know that mental health and performance are deeply intertwined. If your athlete (or you!) is dealing with anxiety, fear of failure, perfectionism, or just feeling overwhelmed by it all, we’re here.
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​And the best part? We have immediate availability for both athlete and parent sessions right now. 🎉
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​No waiting lists. No “we’ll get back to you in a few weeks.” Just real support when you need it most. 💬 Schedule a free discovery call to see how we can support you this season.

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