Dear Coach, This Is What My Kid Wishes They Could Tell You
Dear Coach,
I see how much you give. The long hours, the sacrifice, the energy you pour into every practice and game. You don’t just teach the sport—you shape the kids who play it. But there’s something my child wants to say to you, something they don’t quite know how to put into words.
So, I’ll say it for them.
They want to know if they matter.
When they step onto the field, the court, or the track, they’re not just looking for wins or stats. They’re looking for a sign—a look, a word, a nod—that tells them they belong. That they aren’t invisible. That even if they aren’t the star, they have a place on this team.
MY JOURNEY FOUNDING I LOVE TO WATCH YOU PLAY
They know they won’t always start. They know they won’t always be the best. But they still want to feel valued.
They are trying—probably harder than you realize.
Every sprint. Every drill. Every time they get back up after a mistake. They are trying. And sometimes, when the criticism comes too hard, too fast, or too often, they don’t know how to handle it.
They won’t always show it, but they care deeply about what you think. A sharp word, a disappointed shake of the head—it stays with them. So does encouragement. A simple “I see you working” or “You’re improving” can fuel them for weeks.
They want to play, but more than that, they want to improve.
They may not say it out loud, but they crave direction. Not just what they did wrong, but how to fix it. Not just that they didn’t make the cut, but what they can do to earn it next time.
Tell them. Show them. Give them a path forward. Because if they believe they can get better, they’ll keep showing up.
They don’t want to let you down.
You are a bigger figure in their life than you may realize. They talk about you at the dinner table. They replay your words in their heads. And when they fall short, they don’t just feel like they’ve let themselves down—they feel like they’ve let you down, too.
MY DAUGHTER QUIT SPORTS AND THIS IS WHAT I WANT YOUTH SPORTS PARENTS TO KNOW
Even when they roll their eyes or act like they don’t care, they do.
They need to know you still believe in them.
Especially when they miss the shot. When they get beat. When they fail.
That’s when your belief matters most.
Because the truth is, they’ll remember you forever. They may not recall the scores or the records, but they’ll remember how you made them feel. Whether you made them believe in themselves—or made them doubt if they ever should.
So, Coach, from the kid who might not say it out loud: Keep pushing them. Keep expecting great things. But don’t forget that the smallest gestures—a moment of kindness, a word of encouragement, a reminder that they matter—can change everything.
With gratitude, Thank you coaches.
From all of us sports parents.
