When a child struggles in sports, the first thought that comes to mind if whether they need more practice. Which may be true in many cases but sometimes that’s not the real issue. Anxiety could be the issue, because emotional well-being plays a huge role in sports performance, especially for children.
Anxiety, self-doubt, and silent pressure can affect even the most talented young athletes, says Dr Sanika Divekar, Senior Sports Psychologist, AMP by Mpower, Mumbai. She explains how performance slumps may be linked to anxiety rather than ability, and why it’s important for parents to spot the signs early. “Not every performance dip means your child lacks skill or effort. Sometimes, the mind holds them back more than the body does,” she says.
In children, informs Divekar, anxiety doesn’t always show up as tears or panic attacks. “It often appears as hesitation, irritability, lack of focus, or suddenly not wanting to play. Also, in high-pressure environments like school tournaments or state-level games, these signs are often missed,” says Dr Divekar.
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She adds that parents and coaches may push for more practice, when what the child really needs is emotional support.
Understanding the emotional side of sports is crucial. “Kids may not always know how to express stress or explain why they’re feeling off,” says Dr Divekar. Recognising the triggers behind anxiety can help prevent burnout and rebuild their confidence.
Here are 5 reasons, listed by the expert, your child’s sports performance may be affected by anxiety:
- Feeling the weight of parental pressure: Comments like: You must win today or We’ve invested so much in your coaching, can unintentionally make children feel anxious. Wanting to meet parental expectations often adds extra emotional strain.
- Struggling to balance sports and studies: Managing schoolwork alongside training schedules is a big ask for young athletes. Falling behind in studies or being tired from late-night practice sessions can build stress, making focus and motivation difficult.
- Fear of failure and judgement: Worrying about being benched, laughed at, or criticised by teammates or coaches can increase performance anxiety. This fear can make children overly cautious or hesitant during games, holding back their natural play.
- Mismatch with coaching style: An overly aggressive, critical or unsupportive coaching approach can damage a child’s confidence. Some children respond well to tough love, but others may shut down emotionally, leading to performance dips.
- Comparing themselves to others: Seeing other children perform better, run faster, or look fitter can trigger self-doubt. Social media makes this worse by constantly showing highlight reels of other athletes, making young players feel, not good enough.
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