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- The Huddle - Edition 85
The Huddle - Edition 85
A weekly newsletter from The Coaching Dad.
The Coaching Dad
February 12, 2026
Intro
Keeping Kids From Burning Out
If you’ve ever looked at your kid halfway through a season and thought, “They used to love this… what happened?” — you’re not alone. Youth sports burnout usually isn’t one big dramatic moment. It’s the slow drip of too much, too serious, too often, with not enough recovery, variety, or ownership for the athlete.
Here are a few stats and research-backed signals worth paying attention to:
Many kids step away from sports because it stops being fun, and long-term participation trends show kids often don’t stay in a sport for very long—Aspen Institute Project Play reports the average child plays a sport for less than three years and often quits by around age 11.
American Academy of Pediatrics notes that the true prevalence of burnout isn’t fully known, but they cite evidence including a Swedish study estimating up to ~9% of elite adolescent athletes meeting burnout criteria, and they emphasize the role of overtraining/under-recovery in driving burnout.
Early specialization is consistently linked with higher risk of overuse injuries and increased psychological stress — which can be the on-ramp to burnout and eventual dropout.
The National Athletic Trainers' Association has been blunt about it: pushing year-round, single-sport training too early increases injury risk and can reduce the odds of kids sticking with sports long-term.
The big takeaway: burnout isn’t a “toughness problem.” It’s usually a load management + joy management problem.
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Insight of the week
Coach Influence
Coaches have more influence on burnout than we sometimes want to admit — not because we’re “causing” it, but because we control the climate. If the environment feels like a job, kids treat it like a job… and eventually quit like a job.
A few high-impact ways to keep players energized (in-season and out-of-season):
1) Coach the kid, not just the sport.
Burnout shows up faster in kids who feel like they’re only valued for performance. Build a team culture where effort, curiosity, and being a good teammate get noticed out loud. Make it normal to ask, “What felt fun today?” not just “Did we win?”
2) Separate “development” from “pressure.”
You can ask for focus and still keep things light. The difference is how you respond to mistakes. If every mistake triggers a lecture, athletes start playing tight and associating the sport with stress. A simple rule: correct quickly, then give them a rep to apply it, then move on.
3) Rotate roles and reduce monotony.
Same lines, same drills, same spots in scrimmage = mental fatigue. Give kids a reason to stay mentally engaged: switch partners, switch positions during practice segments, add constraints games (“must make 3 passes before a shot”), or give them a “challenge role” for the day (rebound captain, communication captain, hustle captain).
4) Your calendar is a message.
If the schedule says “more, more, more,” kids hear “this is never-ending.” Even during peak season, weave in micro-recovery: shorter segments, water breaks that aren’t rushed, one low-stakes “fun reps” period each practice. Burnout thrives when there’s no exhale.
5) In the offseason: build athletes, not specialists.
Offseason doesn’t have to mean “no growth.” It can mean different growth. Research and position statements consistently support sport sampling and movement variety for long-term development and enjoyment.
Drill of the week
Give and Go
Sport: Basketball
This one is a staple because it teaches spacing, timing, and playing with teammates — and it feels like “real basketball” fast, which helps keep practices fresh.
Set up: Put one line on the wing (Player A) and one line at the top (Player B). If you have cones, place one cone at the wing and one at the top to help kids visualize spots. One ball starts with Player A on the wing.
How it works (walk-through speed first, then build pace):
Player A starts on the wing with the ball and passes to Player B at the top. The instant Player A passes, they cut hard to the basket (show hands like a target). Player B catches, takes a quick look, and returns the pass to Player A cutting to the rim. Player A catches on the move and finishes with a layup.
Coaching points that make the drill actually work:
Pass-and-go mentality: The cut starts immediately after the pass — no standing and watching.
Cut with purpose: Teach kids to cut “hip to hip” past a pretend defender (even if there isn’t one). A lazy cut kills the timing.
Eyes up on the catch: Player B should catch ready to pass (knees bent, ball in a strong position).
Lead the cutter: If Player A is fast, B should “lead” them slightly so A doesn’t have to stop.
Finish rules: For younger players, require one-foot takeoff or “inside foot, outside foot” to build safe finishing habits.
Progressions (to keep it fun and prevent drill fatigue):
Add a defender: Put a light defender on the cutter who gives 50% pressure.
Two finish options: Layup OR short pull-up (if they cut and the lane “closes”).
Scoring game: Teams of 3. How fast can your group make 10 give-and-go finishes with zero dropped passes?
Tip of the week
Options to Help Relieve Burnout
If you want kids to “take a break” without feeling like they’re falling behind, give them an offseason plan that feels like freedom — not another season.
Here are a few practical options that work for both parents and coaches:
Option A: The 2–1–2 rule (easy and realistic).
For 6 weeks:
2 days/week: their main sport (low intensity, skill-focused)
1 days/week: a different sport or activity (soccer, swimming, martial arts, flag football, anything)
2 days/week: unstructured play (bike, driveway games, park runs, “go be a kid”)
That “unstructured play” piece matters more than most people think — it’s where kids recover mentally.
Option B: Keep the sport, change the format.
If they love basketball but are cooked on “practice”:
20 minutes of HORSE with a parent
driveway free throws with a playlist
“3 spots, 5 makes each” shooting game
Same skill, totally different vibe.
Option C: Let the athlete choose the goal.
Instead of “You need to get better at defense,” try: “What’s one thing you’d like to feel more confident about next season?”
Autonomy is a burnout antidote. When kids feel ownership, effort doesn’t feel forced.
Option D: Watch for the early burnout tells (and treat them like info, not attitude).
they dread going (not just “I’m tired today”)
they’re irritable during/after practice
they complain of vague aches more often
they’re mentally checked out or unusually emotional
These are often “load too high” signals — not “bad mindset” signals.
Blog Highlight
Is Your Young Athlete Burning Out?
Youth sports are supposed to be fun. They’re supposed to build confidence, friendships, resilience, and joy. But somewhere along the way, for some kids, that joy starts to fade. Practices feel heavy. Games feel stressful. The excitement that once filled the car ride to the field turns into silence — or worse, resistance.
If you’re a parent reading this and thinking, “Something feels off,” you’re not alone.
Burnout in youth athletes is becoming more common, especially as sports become more competitive, more specialized, and more year-round. The good news? Burnout is not a permanent condition. With awareness and thoughtful support, parents can help their child reset, recover, and rediscover why they loved playing in the first place.
Let’s unpack what youth sports burnout actually looks like — and what you can do about it.
Gear up
Start Looking the Part!
Every week I release new products in my Etsy store. My goal is to bring a little style back into the youth sports game. You’ll find things for coaches, parents and kids.
The Volunteer Coach Academy
Stop Guessing and Really Help Your Team Improve
You’ve seen the tips and tools I share each week—now imagine everything you need to coach with confidence, all in one place. I’ve built a complete course designed specifically for volunteer and parent-coaches to help you feel prepared, supported, and ready to lead. Whether you’re stepping on the field for the first time or just want to get better for your kid’s sake, this course was made for you.
Oh and if you aren’t ready for the course yet, still check out the link to learn more because there’s a free Coach’s Guide that you can start using instantly.
Book highlight
For Coaches, Parents and Youth Athletes
The Constant Coach
Get this for the coach in your life as it provides coaching guidance and insights one day at a time throughout the entire year.
Stories For Young Athletes
Do you have an Young athlete who’s afraid of getting hit by a pitch or who maybe isn’t quite as aggressive on the soccer field as they could be? This book helps kids with a variety of circumstances, in a lot of different sports, through various stories that your child can relate to. It’s perfect for kids 7-11!
Featured Coaching Resources
Aggression and Anxiety Guides
I just released two new guides designed to make your coaching easier and your players more confident:
1. The Aggression Guide
Perfect for the child who plays great at home but hesitates in games. This guide gives you simple, practical strategies to help players be more assertive, engaged, and confident—without pressure or yelling.
2. Calm Under Pressure
A quick, powerful guide for helping young athletes manage anxiety, nerves, and fear of mistakes. You’ll learn what to look for, what to say, and how to support kids during tough moments.
Content
Other Free Content
You might be new to coaching a team or sport. You may be a grizzled coaching veteran. Either way, check out the content section of thecoachingdad.com. You’ll find resources that cover a large number of sports, including game refreshers, position breakdowns, injury management, practice ideas and more.
Engage
Email Us
Did you miss a previous newsletter? Do you have a topic you’d like us to cover? Looking for broader insights on a particular topic? Send us an email at [email protected]
