The Hidden Struggle I’m Seeing in College Athletes — and What [Parents of] Younger Athletes Need to Know Now

Every year, I work with athletes who step into college as the best of the best — only to find themselves facing something they’ve never experienced before:

Not dressing.
Not playing.
Not knowing where they fit.
Not knowing who they are without being “the star.”

And this year, I’m seeing this pattern more than ever.
These athletes aren’t struggling because they aren’t good enough.
They’re struggling because no one ever taught them how to build a mental foundation strong enough to handle moments like this.

This isn’t a skill issue.
It’s a support and preparation issue.

Why These College Struggles Happen

Younger athletes often float to the top on talent and effort alone. But once they reach the college level, the game changes:

• Everyone is skilled.
• Roles shift constantly.
• Playing time disappears without warning.
• Athletes who were always relied on now feel invisible.
  

And without strong internal tools — confidence anchoring, mindset flexibility, emotional regulation, and the ability to reset — it’s overwhelming. And 91% of the time leads to depression and bone crushing anxiety.

This is where I see them break down the most.

Why This Matters for Younger Athletes

The goal is not to scare athletes or parents.
The goal is to prepare them.

Confidence doesn’t crumble at the college level because athletes aren’t capable.
It crumbles because they never learned:

• how to stay grounded when roles change
• how to manage pressure and self-expectation
• how to recover mentally after mistakes
• how to navigate adversity without spiraling
  

These skills can (and should) be built long before they ever put on a college jersey.

The Foundation Younger Athletes Need Now

Here are the core pillars I’m teaching right now — the same tools that help college athletes get back on track:

1. Separate identity from performance

They are more than their stats, minutes, or coach’s feedback that day.

2. Focus on what builds long-term confidence

Things like preparation, effort, and controllable actions — not outcomes or playing time.

3. Learn how to reset quickly

A breath.
A pause.
A simple grounding routine.
This prevents spirals.

4. Build awareness around self-talk

Most athletes have no idea how harsh they are on themselves until it collapses their confidence.

5. Normalize discomfort

Growth isn’t supposed to feel easy.
Sometimes “feeling off” is the beginning of the breakthrough.

Why I’m Sharing This Now

We’re heading into my book-aversary month — three years since The Empowered Athlete was published 🥳

Inside the book are the exact tools, stories, and frameworks I wish every athlete had access to before reaching these high-pressure moments.

Younger athletes who learn these skills now?
They walk into college with a foundation most athletes don’t develop until their confidence is already shaken.