When we watch athletes perform, we see the highlights — the goals, the wins, the trophies. What we don’t always see are the people behind the player: the parents who drive to practices, the spouses who manage family responsibilities, or the friends who hold space during tough losses. For every athlete in the spotlight, there are adults quietly carrying the weight of worry, stress, and sacrifice.

This is the hidden game. And just like athletes need coaches to perform their best, the adults behind them often need coaching to manage their own emotions, pressures, and roles. At MarkYourLifeCoach, I work with parents, partners, and mentors of athletes to help them find balance, strength, and resilience.

The Pressure Parents and Adults Feel

Parents of athletes often feel a mix of pride and pressure. Pride in their child’s achievements, but pressure to support them emotionally, financially, and logistically. Add in the stress of competition, scholarship dreams, or injury fears, and the role becomes overwhelming.

I’ll never forget a Little League game when I was pitching and walked batter after batter. My parents were overwhelmed in the stands, convinced I would be a wreck. Eventually, I was taken out of the game, and when it ended, they didn’t know what to say. But when I saw them, I simply smiled and said, “Can we go to Carvel for ice cream?” Sometimes the stress we feel as parents is heavier than what our kids are actually carrying. Often, the pressure is self-inflicted and unwarranted.
Have you ever been harder on yourself as a parent than your child needed you to be?

Anxiety and Stress Behind the Scenes

While athletes prepare physically and mentally, the adults behind them often carry invisible stress. They worry about performance, injuries, finances, and the future. Left unaddressed, this stress can spill over into relationships, work, and personal health.
Who’s helping you manage the pressure of being “the support system”?

Why Adults Need Coaching Too

Athlete-focused coaching is common, but adult-focused coaching is often overlooked. Yet, when parents, partners, and mentors are supported, the ripple effect is powerful:
•	Athletes thrive when their support system is steady.
•	Families strengthen when communication improves.
•	Stress reduces when adults learn healthier ways to cope.
What would it mean for your athlete if you showed up calmer, stronger, and more centered in your role?

Boundaries, Balance, and Emotional Support

One of the biggest challenges for adults is setting boundaries. It’s easy to get consumed by schedules, results, and future outcomes. Coaching creates space to:
•	Balance your identity beyond “athlete’s parent” or “support system.”
•	Manage emotions like frustration, disappointment, or fear in healthier ways.
•	Learn how to encourage without adding pressure.
How much of your identity right now is wrapped up in the role you play for your athlete — and what else might you want to reclaim for yourself?

The Team Behind the Team
Athletes don’t succeed alone. Behind every performance is an entire team of professionals — from nutritionists who fuel the body, to strength coaches who build endurance, to life coaches who provide clarity and resilience. Each piece matters. But it all starts with the mind.
“Ignore the noise.” — Tom Brady
Just like athletes must tune out critics, adults behind the player must learn to quiet the noise of doubt, comparison, and fear. The ability to focus on what you can control is the true foundation of balance.
What “noise” in your life needs to be silenced so you can show up fully for yourself and your athlete?

The Athlete’s Blueprint, Applied to Adults

Athletes thrive on consistency, boundaries, and mindset training. Adults behind the player can benefit from the same approach. Think of yourself as part of the team — because you are. Just as athletes train their bodies and minds, adults can train their resilience, communication, and balance.

“In order to be a successful player, you have to have a lot of heart.” — Mike Sexton
This quote from my book reminds us that supporting someone else also takes heart. Showing up with courage, patience, and love is the real win behind the scenes.
Where could you bring more heart — not pressure — into your role as a supporter?

The Life Lessons Blueprint for the Support System

In my Life Lessons Thru the Lens book series, I draw from athlete wisdom to inspire growth both on and off the field. Through my coaching model, we map the adjectives adults use to describe themselves — anxious, overwhelmed, proud, hopeful — to specific chapters in the series. Each story, quote, and lesson becomes part of a personalized blueprint for resilience.
“There’s always another chance, another challenge. You just have to take it.” — Chris Evert
This lesson reminds parents and mentors that setbacks — whether in games or in life — are not the end. They’re opportunities to grow stronger.
What challenge in your own life could become the chance to grow, rather than a reason to feel defeated?

Why Coaching Works for Adults Behind the Player

When adults feel supported, athletes benefit. Coaching provides a neutral space to explore emotions, reset priorities, and develop strategies for balance. It helps adults see that their well-being is not separate from the athlete’s success — it’s connected.
Who’s coaching the coach behind the player?

Conclusion: The Hidden Game Matters

Behind every player is a network of adults who make the journey possible. Their struggles, sacrifices, and emotions matter. Coaching helps parents, partners, and mentors reclaim balance, manage stress, and strengthen their role without being consumed by it.
At MarkYourLifeCoach, I guide not just athletes but the adults who support them. Because when the hidden game is strong, everyone wins.

FAQs