The “Come Down” After Making the Team: Why Success Isn’t Always a Confidence Booster

Your athlete worked hard, showed up, and made the team.

You celebrated. They smiled (maybe even beamed). Coaches gave praise. Friends and family offered congrats.

So why… does everything feel off?

Why are they more anxious now than before tryouts?

Why are they snappy, drained, or suddenly not enjoying practice?

Why does your home—supposed to be a place of celebration—feel full of tension?

If you’re noticing this, you’re not alone. And no, you didn’t miss something.

There’s a real phenomenon that happens after “good news”—and it can take both parents and athletes by surprise.

The Hidden Pressure of “You Made It!”

Making the team is a milestone. But for many athletes, it also triggers a whole new layer of internal pressure, like:

• “Now I have to prove I belong.”
• “What if I don’t live up to the expectations?”
• “What if I was just lucky?”
• “What if they think they picked the wrong person?”

It’s imposter syndrome, performance anxiety, and the weight of being seen—all rolled into one.

And for young athletes especially, it can show up as:

• Trouble sleeping the night before practices
• Avoiding prep or brushing off strategy talks
• Low-level irritability or emotional outbursts
• A dip in confidence or motivation—just when you expected the opposite

Why Parents Feel It Too

You might be feeling confused or even frustrated:
“Didn’t we just get through the hard part?”
“Shouldn’t they be proud of themselves?”
“This is what they wanted—right?”

Totally understandable questions. But part of your athlete’s journey includes learning to navigate success as much as setbacks. Both come with emotional weight.

And for parents, that often means:

• Wondering how to support without adding pressure
• Seeing tension rise at home (even when things “should” be great)
• Trying to figure out if you should back off… or lean in
  
  

What Your Athlete Needs Now

Athletes don’t just need mental training when they’re struggling to keep up.
They need it when they’ve leveled up—and are suddenly facing new demands, new expectations, and new self-doubt.

This is the perfect time to teach skills like:

✅ Staying grounded under pressure
✅ Building internal confidence (not just waiting for external validation)
✅ Recovering from mistakes without spiraling
✅ Managing energy and stress in sustainable ways

These are the tools that help athletes go from surviving their season to thriving in it.

The Bottom Line

Making the team isn’t the finish line—it’s the beginning of a new phase of growth and opportunity.

If your athlete seems unsettled or stressed after making the team, don’t brush it off thinking it will pass, or wait until things get worse.

Meet them where they are.
Support their growth.
And remember: this is exactly where mindset work matters most.

Want to explore how to help your athlete through this moment?
Let’s talk.