The Early Season Wobble: What It Is and Why It Matters

The uniforms are crisp, the schedule is set, and your athlete is back in the game.
So why does everything feel… off?

Maybe your athlete seems more irritable than excited.
Maybe they’re dragging themselves to practice or snapping at siblings after school.
Maybe they say everything’s “fine,” but you can tell they’re not quite okay.

Welcome to what I call the early season wobble.

The Wobble Is Normal—But It’s Still Important

That post-tryout stretch, where athletes are adjusting to new demands and routines, is often filled with invisible stress.

Even athletes who are thrilled to have made the team can find themselves struggling as the mental load kicks in.

The good news?
This wobble is normal.
The better news?
It’s also a prime opportunity for support.

But only if we know what to look for.

5 Signs Your Athlete Might Be in the Wobble

Here are a few common early-season challenges and what might really be going on beneath the surface:

1. Mood Swings or Snappy Behavior at Home

What it looks like: Eye rolls, tension, snapping at siblings or parents.
What’s going on: Mental fatigue. Over-stimulation. Pressure they haven’t fully processed.
Try this: Create a “quiet buffer” when they get home—10–15 minutes of no expectations (even before dinner or homework).

2. Dragging Through Practice But Saying “I’m Fine”

What it looks like: Low energy, sluggishness, but no clear complaint.
What’s going on: Their emotional or mental battery is in the yellow or red zone, but they don’t recognize the signs yet.
Try this: Start a quick “battery check” conversation each day—green, yellow, red. Teach them what each level feels like.

3. Avoiding Prep for a Game, Test, or Assignment

What it looks like: Procrastinating or avoiding game-day prep, study guides, or stretching routines.
What’s going on: Often this is fear of failure hiding under the surface.
Try this: Break prep into tiny, doable steps and ask open-ended questions like “What feels hardest about getting started?”

4. Dreading School or Practice (Even If They Used to Love It)

What it looks like: Complaints, dragging feet, low motivation.
What’s going on: Hidden perfectionism, self-comparison, or fear of not performing well.
Try this: Instead of “What’s wrong?” ask, “What’s been hard lately?” to open up space for a more honest check-in.

5. Withdrawing or Shutting Down

What it looks like: Less talkative, emotionally flat, or isolating.
What’s going on: Pressure or disappointment that feels overwhelming or unfixable.
Try this: Let them know it’s okay to talk about hard things—and remind them that support exists for moments just like this.

This Is When Mindset Work Matters Most

We tend to think mental training is something to turn to when everything is really falling apart.
But the truth is, the wobble (or better yet, before it), is the best place to begin.

Why?

Because athletes are still open.
They’re still learning.
And the right support now can prevent bigger confidence crashes down the road.

Whether your athlete made the team and is feeling the pressure…

Or they didn’t—and they’re trying to figure out what’s next…

They’re excited to go back to school… 

Or they’re not… 

Mental performance coaching isn’t just about pep talks.
It’s about building the tools and habits they need to thrive—before they burn out.

Final Thoughts

So if you’ve been wondering:
“Is this just a phase?”
“Should we be doing something differently?”
“Why isn’t this as exciting as we expected?”

You’re not wrong to notice.
And you don’t have to navigate it alone.

Confidence isn’t something athletes are born with—it’s something they build.
And this? This is the perfect place to start.

If you’re curious about how I help athletes work through any of the things mentioned above, please reach out at [email protected].