The Power of Presence

A focus on outcomes and future goals often characterizes the youth sports environment. Parents and coaches may inadvertently contribute by emphasizing scholarships, professional careers, or winning at all costs. This can create a culture where young athletes constantly strive for the next achievement rather than enjoying the process and being present at the moment. Today, I want to discuss the power of being present—not just physically but mentally and emotionally—and what a profound gift it is for both coach and athlete.

The Benefits of Presence:

When young athletes are present, they can fully engage in their sport, appreciate their teammates, and savor the joy of competition. This can lead to:

• Reduced anxiety: By focusing on the present, athletes can let go of worries about the future or regrets about the past.

• Improved performance: When athletes are fully present, they are more likely to be in a state of flow where they perform at their best.

• Increased enjoyment: Being present allows athletes to appreciate the beauty and excitement of their sport.

• Stronger relationships: Present athletes are more attuned to their teammates and coaches, fostering deeper connections.

Social Science and Presence:

You’ll hear us talk a lot about our application of the “tripartite influence model,” a model from the social sciences that highlights the interplay between, in our case, the athlete, the family, and the coach. It underscores the importance of presence in youth sports. When coaches are present, they create a supportive and encouraging environment for their athletes. When parents are present, they provide unconditional love and acceptance. And when athletes are present, they are able to receive this support and thrive.

How Can You Cultivate Presence?

Add mindfulness exercises.

Encourage young athletes to practice mindfulness techniques, such as meditation or deep breathing, to help them stay grounded in the present moment.

➡️ Try this: Begin each practice with a one-minute visualization exercise, where athletes imagine themselves performing at their best, feeling confident and focused.

Focus on the process.

Shift the focus from outcomes to the process of learning and improving. Celebrate effort and progress rather than just wins and losses.

➡️ Try this: Instead of asking, "Did you win?", ask, "What did you learn today?" or "What's one thing you did well?". At the end of practice, have each athlete share one specific area they improved on that day.

Create a supportive environment.

Foster a team culture where athletes feel safe to be themselves and make mistakes.

➡️ Try this: Before each game, have a team discussion where each athlete shares one specific thing they'll focus on to improve their performance, regardless of the outcome.

Work to limit distractions.

Encourage athletes to put away their phones and other distractions during practice and games.

➡️ Try this: Create a 'phone-free zone' during practice. Have a designated area where athletes can leave their phones to minimize distractions and encourage them to be present with their teammates.

Model presence

As coaches and parents, it's important to model presence in our own lives. When we are fully present with our athletes, we create a ripple effect that can transform the entire team.

➡️ Try this: During practice, give your full attention to athletes when they speak. This reinforces their value and helps you understand their perspectives and needs.

The power of being present is a gift that we can give to young athletes. By cultivating presence in ourselves and our athletes, we can help them to thrive both in and out of sports. Let's commit to creating a youth sports culture where presence is valued and nurtured, so that our young athletes can experience the true joy of sport.

Take Action:

• Share this blog post with other coaches, parents, and athletes.

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