And almost every parent gets it wrong. This free playbook gives you the 12 phrases that work — and the 5 that quietly destroy your athlete’s confidence.
12 things to say after your kid’s game.
5 things to never say.
1 sentence that fixes almost everything.
By Coach Varsay Lewis, M.Ed.
Founder, Apex Athletic Mind
apexathleticmind.com
Why your kid can’t process feedback after a tough game (and what they actually need).
Tested with hundreds of athletes. Use one, then be quiet.
If you remember nothing else, remember this sentence.
I’ve sat with hundreds of athletes after rough games. Almost every one of them tells me the same thing: ‘The car ride home is worse than the game.’
— Coach Varsay Lewis, M.Ed.
After a tough game, your athlete’s nervous system is flooded with adrenaline and cortisol. They physically cannot process a debrief or even most praise.
What they need from you in that moment is safety, not analysis. Get this right and they’ll come back to you on their own — usually 12–24 hours later — and ask the real questions themselves. That’s when coaching actually lands.
This playbook shows you how.
Plus — when you opt in, I’ll send you a 2-week email series with the same mental performance tools I use with state champions. Unsubscribe anytime.