There are many stressors within youth sport practice, and their consequences may be really negative for the young athlete: lack of quality coaching, parental over-interference, parental expectations, player expectations, absence of satisfaction, mental disorders, dysfunctional attitudes & sporting injuries, which can all lead to dropping out.

But well-adjusted players adapt in response to stressors in their lives; whether physical, mental, or psychological.

Players adapt in response to physical exercise. We can especially see that with players who commit to sporting behavior during the years 13-15 as they become leaner, faster, and stronger.

These same players also adapt mentally, especially in team sports. Can the player learn to become more team orientated and less of an individual and in doing so give up a part of the “me” for the benefit of the “we”? Some can and some cannot. Those who cannot often discontinue playing team sports because they do not want to be part of a collective.

Psychologically, how do players adapt? Our emotions make up our psychological selves. Emotional control can assist athletes (in conjunction with the physical, technical, and tactical training) with the achievement of higher level of performance.

Players, parents, and coaches need to assess their motivation, concentration, stress control and self- regulation of mood. Parents know their children. Likewise, good coaches need to work hard to build relationships and to get to know their players.

Young athletes sometimes need a certain amount of motivation to obtain a good level of sport practice (matches and trainings) but sometimes players need to be left to their own devices.

Young athletes with a good psychological development will experience increased levels of satisfaction in sport and playing team sports will lead to increased social skills.

Good coaching means building positive relationships between players and parents. Get to know each other, listen to each other and be supportive to each other.

Good coaching creates the conditions for athletes to adapt to the stressors, whether physical, mental or psychological that allows the youth athletes to continue to grow as persons and to improve as players.