Sports and Kids with Psychologist with Megan Cannon

Sports and Kids with Psychologist with Megan Cannon

From Simple Purposeful Living Podcast by Cloud10

April 7, 2026 · 46 min

About this episode

Megan Cannon discusses the mental challenges of youth sports and how parents can better support their children.

If youth sports have ever made you feel like you’re constantly trying to “keep up,” this conversation will feel like a breath of fresh air. Today, I’m joined by Megan Cannon, a former D1 athlete turned counselor who now helps athletes and families navigate the mental side of sports. And wow… this one hit home. Because let’s be honest, youth sports have changed. It’s more intense, more time-consuming, and often way less fun than it used to be. We talk about burnout (yes, even in young kids), the pressure to specialize early, and how easy it is for both kids and parents to tie their identity to a sport. Megan shares such a powerful reminder: our role isn’t to coach from the sidelines, it’s to be their safe place. Their cheerleader. We also get into how to handle tough moments like when your child wants to quit, or doesn’t make the team, and why it’s okay to let them feel disappointed instead of rushing in to fix it. And maybe my favorite takeaway? This season is short. The games, the practices, the car rides… it won’t last forever. So how can we actually enjoy it while we’re in it? If you’re navigating youth sports right now, this episode will help you take a step back, refocus on…

People in this episode

Host: Cloud10

Guest: Megan Cannon

Topics covered

  • youth sports
  • mental health
  • parenting
  • burnout
  • identity
  • support

Keywords

  • youth sports
  • mental health
  • burnout
  • parenting
  • athletes
  • support
  • identity

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Carolina Counseling for Athletes

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