As I ride home from soccer practice in my teammate’s car, the music fades into silence as my mind fixates on the stack of homework waiting on my desk. Taking my first break in 10 hours, the city lights blur past as a wave of exhaustion washes over me. I brace myself for the daunting task ahead, feeling the weight of both dread and fatigue settle in.
Ever since I was 4, soccer has been a main inlet of my happiness, a place where I can let go of social and academic pressures.
However, it seems recently sports has started to come with its own set of challenges — overbearing pressures from coaches and colleges, performance anxiety and the fear of failure. As a result, ever since I entered high school, I started to contemplate whether I wanted to continue the sport that brought me so much joy for such a long time.
The stress that comes with playing sports is nationwide, with a 2023 American Academy of Pediatrics report saying about 70% of kids drop out of organized sports by age 13. In addition, according to the National Library of Medicine, 60% of all high school athletes experience a moderate to extreme level of stress because of their sport, and a quarter report stress negatively affects their performance. To put it simply, as self-imposed pressures start becoming more apparent, kids stop wanting to play sports for fun.
Student-athletes often internalize stress because of a desire for validation and fear of failure. Student athletes face constant pressure to perform well, but mostly from themselves. As they navigate their athletic pursuits, they often find themselves in a cycle of perfectionism, where anything less than exceptional feels like a personal defeat.
Many external factors also play into a student-athlete’s pressure to perform. With coaches always watching, athletes are expected to constantly be perfect. And as parents push for competitive success, coaches impose rigorous training schedules and performance expectations.
As student-athletes progress through high school, they also face increasingly challenging coursework, while college considerations become more pressing. They are also expected to maintain somewhat good grades. The NCAA requires a minimum 2.3 GPA for all Division I programs, and a 2.2 GPA for all Division II.
While Division III programs do not have specific GPA requirements, they tend to be smaller schools more focused on academics, expecting solid grades throughout high school. For some students, recruitment may be the only way they can attend a college — their academic future is based on whether or not they get an email from that one coach or a full-ride scholarship to their dream school.
Furthermore, if student athletes want to play their sport at an Ivy or other top level school, they must maintain strong grades in accelerated courses. The stakes are incredibly high; with their future on their shoulders, the weight of these ambitions create extreme amounts of stress.
Measuring perfection through comparison with peers and teammates can amplify this constant, inescapable feeling of anxiety. When you are in an intensely competitive environment, with everyone driven to achieve top results, it is overwhelming – especially as a high schooler still navigating important, confusing parts of life. In these instances, it is crucial to remember the love for the game. Otherwise, you could end up losing sight of why you started playing.
So why do high schoolers choose to play sports if it creates so much anxiety and confusion? For me, it is because of my love for soccer and the joy I feel while playing — I can let go of distractions and focus on the game, all while improving who I am and my work ethic on and off the field.
Outside organizations can also play a huge part in helping student-athletes and their stress and motivation. Many athletes are unaware of mental health facilities available to them or feel discouraged due to stigmas surrounding mental health. Schools and sports clubs should provide ready access to mental health resources and professionals, to minimize this pressure to perform. Only then can student-athletes rediscover their love for the sport, and often perform better in turn.
Students themselves can play a huge role in this process too. Their need for perfection or fear of failure represent the unrealistic expectations they put on themselves. It’s nearly impossible for someone to have a perfect game every weekend or make zero mistakes at practice. By gaining awareness through reaching out to sports psychologists or researching methods of reducing stress, student-athletes can regain their confidence and enjoyment for the sport.
Ultimately, the emotional burden of recruitment, scholarship pursuits or the pressure to perform can limit personal growth and the joy of sports, leaving students to grapple with their self-esteem and mental well-being. While student-athletes often place pressure on themselves, it’s essential to stay connected to one’s initial love for the game to sustain motivation and fulfillment. So, the next time you are feeling overwhelmed while driving home from a long day of school and sports, remember to take a step back and just breathe — you can do this.
