FREE PARENT WEBINAR #3: Jesse Engelbrecht, former pro and founder of SportMind, presented a webinar on “Healthy Perspective – Keeping Sport in Balance With Life” on March 11th 2026 @ 5pm EST
- TO WATCH THE RECORDING OF THE OUR THIRD PARENT WEBINAR CLICK HERE.
- TO SIGN UP FOR JESSE’S SPORTMIND WEEKLY TIPS, CLICK HERE.
- PLEASE SEND ANY FEEDBACK AND IDEAS TO COACHING@USSQUASH.ORG OR/AND COMPLETE THIS SURVEY.
- CLICK HERE JOIN JESSE’S ‘PLAY FREE UNDER PRESSURE’ WORKSHOP ON MARCH 24TH AT 4.30PM EST
KEY TAKEWAYS FOR SQUASH PARENTS
JOY DRVES PERFORMANCE
Long-term success in sport is built on intrinsic motivation—joy, curiosity, and love of the game.
When pressure, rankings, or results become the main focus, motivation becomes fragile and burnout becomes more likely.
EARLY SPECIALIZATION IS A MYTH
Research shows that most elite adult athletes were not the top juniors in their age group.
The best athletes often develop through broad experiences, patience, and long-term development, rather than early specialization.
THE PARENT’S ROLE: SUPPORT, NOT ANALYSIS
After matches, your role is to connect, not coach.
Instead of analyzing the match, focus on support:
- “I love watching you play.”
- “I’m proud of your effort.”
Technical and tactical discussions should be left to the coach.
FOCUS ON THE COMPARISONS
- Broad comparison (rankings, others’ training schedules) can become the thief of joy.
- Narrow comparison (personal progress, skill development) becomes the teacher of skills.
Encourage athletes to measure progress against themselves, not others.
AVOID THE “COLLEGE PATHWAY TRAP”
Squash can open doors to great educational opportunities, but when the sport becomes an obligation instead of a passion, motivation disappears.
Success comes when joy drives the journey, not external pressure.
A FRAMEWORK FOR HEALTHY PARENT-ATHLETE RELATIONSHIP
PLAYER OWNERSHIP
Athletes should own their goals and motivation. Parents guide and support, but the journey must belong to the player.
ENCOURAGE AUTONOMY
Allow players to take responsibility for their development—simple things like packing their own bag or managing their schedule help build ownership.
SEPARATE ROLES
- Coach: Technical and tactical development
- Parent: Emotional support and encouragement
MINDSET: FOCUS ON THE PROCESS
Elite players often credit success to shifting focus away from results and toward the process.
Key principles:
- Focus on one point at a time
- Play for personal growth and curiosity
- Remember that wins and losses do not define you
PRACTICAL TOOL:
The “Top Three” Exercise parents and athletes should identify the three most important priorities for the squash journey. Example:
- Health – physical and mental well-being
- Happiness – enjoying the sport and the journey
- Character – respect, kindness, and sportsmanship
Use these priorities as a North Star when navigating wins, losses, and challenges.
SUPPORTING YOUR CHILD THROUGH CHALLENGES
If a player is reluctant to train:
- Start with open communication—understand the reason.
- Ensure the sport remains fun and engaging.
- Remember that motivation often follows action—once players begin, they often rediscover their energy.
Balance commitment and discipline with rest and flexibility when needed.
NEXT STEPS FOR PARENTS
- Define your child’s Top Three priorities.
- Focus on connection after matches, not analysis.
- Support your child’s ownership of their goals and development.
