Your Daughter Is Going Pro pro…probably not.

Is your daughter going pro? Probably not.

To the parents who believe their young daughter is the next household name in sports: Take a deep breath and hear me out. Your belief in her talent is admirable. Your support matters. But your current mindset? It’s doing more harm than good.

It seems in the last week alone, I’ve heard more stories about parents and/or coaches who are pushing their 10, 9 and even 8 year old’s like they are going to be the next pro. So, I wanted to take a moment to address this, with heart and a dose of honesty.

If you think she’s going pro and you’re structuring her entire childhood around that belief, it’s time for a serious reality check. Because while she might have potential, your approach could be setting her up for burnout, disappointment, and—ironically—underperformance.

Here are five direct, no-BS truths every parent and coach needs to understand if they think their daughter is destined for the 1% who make it to the pros.

1. Your Pressure is More Likely to Break Her Than Make Her

The science is clear, although do we really need science to tell us that overtraining and high-pressure environments contribute to early burnout, anxiety, and even depression in young athletes. By age 13, 70% of kids quit organized sports, often because it’s no longer fun—it’s a job. A job they didn’t sign up for.

Your daughter should be playing because she loves it, not because you’re charting a path to a full-ride scholarship or a pro contract. The harder you push, the faster she burns out. It’s that simple. Let her enjoy the game before it becomes work.

2. Talent in Elementary School Doesn’t Guarantee Anything

Being the best on the team in third grade means nothing if she doesn’t develop the right skills, mental attitude, and resilience over time. Early sports success doesn’t predict future success—consistent development, adaptability, and passion does.

Do you know how many “youth prodigies” disappear by high school? A lot. Physical development, mental fortitude, and a love for the game matter far more than being the standout fourth-grader.

3. Believing She’s Better Than Everyone Else Will Hurt Her More Than It Helps

That “she’s more talented than her teammates” attitude? It’s a fast track to entitlement, poor work ethic, and a bad reputation. No coach at the next level wants a player who thinks she’s above the team. Talent opens doors, but humility, discipline, and a willingness to improve keep them open.

In conversation with several collegiate coaches this week, we all agreed that we’d rather have the athlete that was humble, hungry and coachable. I’d venture to say, we aren’t the only ones.

Instead of inflating her ego, instill values that will serve her in the long run—work ethic, respect for teammates and coaching staff, and the understanding that nothing is given. In many ways, she will have to earn her way, her position and her future success. Let her get her reps in.

4. There’s No Place for Your Ego in Her Journey

I said it, and I mean it. Ask yourself this: Are you chasing her dream, or are you living out your own failed athletic ambitions through her?

Honestly, look in the mirror and connect with the truth on this. Too many parents and coaches lose sight of the fact that this is her sport, her journey, and her future—not yours. Your role in her sports journey is to guide, support, and encourage. Period. If her achievements (or failures) feel like a reflection of your worth, it’s time to self-assess.

5. If She’s Really That Good, She’ll Get There 

The best athletes rise to the top because they love what they do, work relentlessly, and have the right support system—not because their parents micromanaged their every move or funneled thousands of dollars into elite training programs before puberty. Ok, I’m sure that some get there through micromanaging parents, but is that really the experience you want to create?

If your daughter has what it takes, she’ll make it. But she needs space to grow, fail, and succeed on her terms.

One Last Thing: Let Her Be a Kid

You want your daughter to be great? Let her love the game first. Let her have fun, play multiple sports, and develop as a whole person. If she’s meant to be among the elite, she will be. If not, she’ll still walk away with invaluable lessons, a healthy relationship with competition, and a lifelong love for the sport.

If you really value her future, invest in building a strong foundation. Take your time. Invest in experiences where she leaves saying “when do we come back”  or, “that was fun”, and most importantly invest your time in showing up for her, cheering her on, encouraging her and being her safe place. As daughters, even if we don’t say we need you to be these things for us, we do.