Posted
April 22, 2026
A few minutes remain on the clock. The crowd is loud, and for a moment everything seems to hinge on a single play. For a teenager, that kind of attention can feel less like a chance to shine and more like weight—an accumulation of expectations from coaches, teammates, parents, and, often most intensely, from within.
At St. Edward High School, that reality is taken seriously. With more than 70 percent of students competing across 17 sports, athletics are a central part of the student experience—but they are not the whole story. Behind every uniform is a young man still learning, growing, and figuring out who he is becoming.
“Our athletic program has earned a place on a stage that brings both opportunity and attention,” says Associate Athletic Director Nicole Pieffer-Barker. “These guys might be six feet tall and performing at a really high level, but at the end of the day, they’re still kids. They care, they want to do well—and that brings real pressure with it. It’s on all of us—coaches, parents, even the people in the stands—to make sure they feel supported, not just as athletes, but as people.”
That mindset recently guided a Parent Education Session focused on supporting student-athlete mental health—specifically, how parents can help their sons navigate the pressures of sport.
Carlie Grandjean—a licensed clinical therapist, mental performance coach, former collegiate athlete, and current coach—encourages parents to recognize the powerful role they play in shaping how their sons experience sports. The way a parent responds to wins, losses, and everything in between often becomes the lens through which a young athlete sees the game. By modeling perspective, balance, and positivity, parents can help their sons do the same.
The following insights offer a starting point for parents looking to support their student-athlete at any age or level of competition.
Be Thoughtful About Communication
Not every game needs a breakdown. Sometimes the best thing you can say is, “I love watching you play.”
Give him space to bring it up first. If he wants to talk, listen more than you respond. If he doesn’t, that’s okay too. The goal isn’t to fix the moment—it’s to make sure he knows he can come to you when he’s ready.
Keep Sports in Perspective
Sports can be a big part of his life—but shouldn’t be the only part.
Encourage connection with friends, other interests, and time to just be a kid. Remind him, in small ways, that who he is isn’t defined by a scoreboard or a stat line. The more balanced his world is, the more resilient he’ll be in competition.
Focus on What He Can Control
After a game, it’s easy to focus on the result. But what sticks longer is how he showed up.
Effort. Attitude. Preparation. Those are the things worth talking about. Mistakes are part of it—they always have been. Helping him see that keeps confidence from rising and falling with every performance.
Be the Calm in the Stands
Athletes feel more than we think—especially from the people closest to them.
The sideline, the car ride, the conversation after—it all adds up. When parents stay steady, it gives athletes room to breathe. When the pressure eases, the joy has a way of coming back.
Pay attention if stress or anxiety around his sport becomes ongoing, or if a dip in confidence or motivation doesn’t bounce back with time. Changes in behavior—like avoiding practice or competition, withdrawing after games, or not wanting to talk about his experience—can be signs worth noticing. - Carlie Grandjean
Mood shifts after poor performances, difficulty handling injury, or confidence that feels entirely tied to results may point to a need for support. Other indicators include fear of making mistakes, playing it overly safe, perfectionism, hesitation in competition, or a clear loss of enjoyment.
When these patterns persist, additional support can make a meaningful difference. At St. Edward, that support is part of the experience—through coaches, counselors, and a community that understands success is about more than performance.
Athletics will always come with pressure. That’s part of competing. But the experience surrounding it—the conversations, the perspective, the support—shapes how a student-athlete carries that pressure. What matters most is that he doesn’t carry it alone.
This information was shared during a recent Parent Education Session, part of the Counseling Department’s ongoing series for St. Edward families. If you have questions or would like additional support, please contact School Social Worker Kelly Andrews at kandrews@sehs.net.