How Can I Keep My Athlete Motivated?

This one’s tough — because motivation isn’t something you can force. And as a parent, it can be tough to watch your kid lose interest or stop giving effort. But how you approach it depends on where they are developmentally.

Here’s how I’d look at it if I had a kid in middle school vs. high school.

Middle School and Under

At this age, the most important thing is making sure they’re actually enjoying what they’re doing.

• If they’re having fun and doing it with friends, they’re more likely to stick with it.

• If they’re being forced into a sport they don’t enjoy, it won’t last.

• Talk to them. Ask what they like, what they don’t, and what they want to try.

• Let them explore. Most kids at this age don’t know what they really enjoy yet, and that’s normal.

Trying different sports and figuring out what they like is part of the process.

High School and Up

This is where things shift.

By high school, they usually have a sense of what they like and don’t like. There’s less you can do to create motivation. It has to come from them.

• Your job is to support. That could mean taking them to training, helping them find camps, or getting them around the right people.

• If they’re not into it, you might be able to force them to show up, but you won’t be able to force effort or interest.

• They have to want it for themselves.

At this stage, it’s more about providing opportunity than pushing them.

Motivation is internal. You can support it, guide it, and create the right environment—but you can’t give it to them. That part’s up to them.