Before the championship game
The big game looms. They can't sleep. Your job is not a pep talk. It's lower the temperature.
What they're feeling
- · Pressure they haven't carried before.
- · Aware that everyone is watching.
- · Re-running the season's biggest moments in their head.
- · Worried they'll let the team down.
- · Sometimes excited and don't know how to hold it.
What to say (pick one)
- "It's just another game. Same field. Same teammates. Same warm-up."
- "I'm proud of how you got here. The season is already a thing you did."
- "Whatever happens tomorrow, we go get food after."
Then stop talking.
What not to say
- "This is the biggest day of your life."
- "Don't let me down."
- "Coach is counting on you."
- "Win this for grandma. (Real example. Don't.)"
The rule
Lower the temperature, don't raise it. The game is loud enough on its own.
If they bring it up
- · If they want to talk strategy, listen, don't add your own.
- · If they say they're scared, validate. 'Yeah, this one is bigger. The body knows.'
- · If they can't sleep, don't make them. Sit with them. Read together. Movie. Don't lecture about sleep.
Save this
Before a championship
- · Treat it like a normal game out loud, even if it isn't.
- · Skip the pep talk. They've heard six this week.
- · Promise the relationship stays the same regardless of result.
parentcoachplaybook.com/scripts
You might also need
Your kid is nervous before a game. Here's what to say.
The morning of. Stomach in knots. Saying they don't want to go. The script that calms without dismissing.
Your kid lost the game. Here's what to say.
What to say after a loss. Different from a bad game. The script for the moment when the team played hard and still came up short.