“Reps vs. Mindset” Checklist
“Reps vs. Mindset” Checklist
1. Spotting Burnout Early
☐ Mood swings or irritability before practice
☐ Frequent excuses to skip training
☐ Drop in enthusiasm or energy
☐ Complaints of aches, pains, or fatigue
2. Balancing Structured Practice & Free Play
☐ Schedule at least 1–2 unstructured play sessions per week
☐ Plan “fun days” with no drills; just play games or do scrimmages
☐ Rotate between skill-focused and creativity-focused activities
3. Building Core Confidence Off the Field
☐ Praise effort: “I love how hard you tried; win or lose.”
☐ Celebrate character: “You were so supportive of your teammate today.”
☐ Encourage positive self-talk: “Tell yourself what you did well.”
☐ Model resilience: share your own “I’ve been there” stories
4. Open Communication Prompts
☐ “What part of practice did you enjoy most?”
☐ “If you could skip one drill, which would it be?”
☐ “What’s one thing you’re proud of this week; on or off the field?”
☐ “How do you feel when you make a mistake?”
5. Reflect & Rebalance
☐ Are we adding reps because it helps, or out of habit/pressure?
☐ What would happen if we cut back for a week?
☐ How can we mix more fun into training?
☐ What’s one non-sport activity that makes your child feel confident?