04/09/2026
Continuing on alignmentâŚ
Because itâs not just about the team or the coach.
Itâs also about the environment you create around your athlete.
And this is a part that doesnât get talked about enough.
Alignment means understanding how your athlete actually ticks.
Because not every athlete is wired the same way.
Some are internally driven â they donât need to be pushed.
Some are more sensitive and can get in their own heads.
Some need encouragement more than pressure.
And if we donât take the time to understand thatâŚ
We can unintentionally create an environment that works against them.
Iâve seen it show up in different ways:
⢠coaching from the sidelines
⢠constant comparisons to other players
⢠focusing on things outside the athleteâs control (refs, coaches, teammates)
⢠setting expectations that donât match where they are right now
And most of the time, it doesnât come from a bad place.
It comes from wanting the best.
But when the environment around the athlete doesnât match what they actually needâŚ
It creates pressure instead of progress.
At the same time â thereâs a balance.
If youâre raising an aspiring elite athleteâŚ
You canât put them in a bubble.
You canât constantly defend them.
You canât remove every challenge.
And you canât avoid holding them accountable.
Because that doesnât help them grow.
Development requires both:
Support and accountability.
Sometimes that means being compassionate.
And sometimes that means letting them work through discomfort.
Alignment at home means asking:
What does my athlete need from me right now?
And also:
Am I helping them grow â or protecting them from growth?
Because when the right support system is in placeâŚ
Thatâs when real development happens.
Not just in skill â but in confidence, resilience, and mindset.
And thatâs what carries them forward long-term.