Do you help or hinder?

Are You Raising a Champion… or Raising Their Bag?

You might be the biggest obstacle to your child’s athletic success.

Not because you don’t care—but because you care so much, you’re doing too much.

3 Key Ideas Every Sports Parent Needs to Hear:

1. Well-meaning actions can hold kids back more than bad coaching ever could
2. Independence and self-responsibility predict success far better than early talent
3. One simple 5-minute test reveals if you’re truly supporting your child’s potential

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The Doorway Test

Next time your child comes home from practice, do one thing:
Stand back. Watch. Say nothing.

✅ Do they unpack their own gear?
✅ Do they throw their dirty kit in the laundry?
✅ Do they sort out their recovery snack?
✅ Do they prep their bag for the next session?

Or…

Do they dump everything in a heap, expecting you to handle it

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What do Champions Have in Common

There is a clear pattern:

• Olympic athletes whose parents never carried their bags
• Pros who made breakfast before 5am training
• World champions who did their homework before hitting the pitch

They all had parents who knew:
Character beats talent every time.

When “Helping” Hurts

Dad: “If I don’t pack my daughter’s bag, she’ll forget her goggles.”
Me: “Exactly. And what would she learn if she did?”
Dad: Blank stare that told me everything.
Child: Missing goggles = missed training = real-life consequence = priceless lesson.

Every time you step in, you’re stepping on an opportunity to build resilience.

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Character Traits That Matter Most

Forget elite camps and custom sticks for a second – give your child a real shot at long-term success, by focusing on building these:

1. Independence – “If it is to be, it is up to me.”
2. Responsibility – They own their wins and their mistakes.
3. Resilience – They bounce back and problem-solve.
4. Discipline – They do what’s needed, not just what’s easy.

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Parent’s To-Do List: 

1. Stop packing their bag. Let them learn from forgotten gear.
2. Hold back your reminders. See what they remember on their own.
3. Let them handle post-practice routines. Laundry, snacks, kit prep—it’s all theirs.
4. Allow small failures. They’re the gateway to big growth.
5. Talk character, not results. Praise effort, discipline, and ownership.

Build Champions, Not Dependents

Ideas from here

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