The Translation Room
What adults say. What young athletes hear. What we could mean instead.
In youth sports, some words travel further than the intention behind them.
In youth sports, words do not always land where we think they do.
Some phrases are said with care, emotion or the desire to help. But a young athlete may hear them differently. This space is about understanding the distance between adult intention and the message received by the child.
What we say
Quick phrases from the sideline, the stands or the car ride home. Most of the time, said with good intentions.
What young athletes hear
Messages that may be interpreted differently, especially when the child is tired, emotional or disappointed.
What we can mean instead
Simple, clearer and calmer alternatives that protect the relationship and help the athlete stay in the game.
FEATURED ARTICLE
The Translation Room: What Adults Say and What Young Athletes Hear
Sometimes, a phrase said with care can reach a young athlete as pressure. This article opens The Translation Room: a space where we look more closely at the words spoken from the sideline, after the game or on the way home.
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