What Young Athletes Need Most From Parents and Coaches with Megan Cannon

What Young Athletes Need Most From Parents and Coaches with Megan Cannon

From The Steadfast Podcast by Steadfast Christian Counseling

April 21, 2026 · 43 min · Season 3 · Episode 23

About this episode

Jessie Evans and Megan Cannon discuss the emotional needs of young athletes and how parents and coaches can support their development.

In this episode of The Steadfast Podcast , Jessie Evans sits down with returning guest Megan Cannon , owner of Carolina Counseling for Athletes , for a powerful conversation about the emotional side of youth sports—and what athletes really need from the adults leading them. Together, they explore how secure attachment, emotional safety, trust, and regulation impact not only performance, but a child’s long-term confidence and identity. From the role of coaches, to the influence of parents, to helping kids develop resilience without tying their worth to performance, this episode is packed with practical wisdom for families navigating sports culture today. Jessie and Megan discuss: how coaches can build trust and connection with players why emotional safety leads to better performance the difference between pressure and support how parents can help kids build anti-fragile confidence why kids need to know they are more than their sport If you are raising an athlete, coaching a team, or simply want to help a child grow in confidence and emotional health, this conversation will encourage and equip you. 🌐 Website: https://www.carolinacounselingforathletes.com 📱 Instagram…

People in this episode

Host: Jessie Evans

Guest: Megan Cannon

Topics covered

  • youth sports
  • emotional safety
  • coaching
  • parenting
  • confidence
  • resilience

Keywords

  • youth athletes
  • emotional regulation
  • trust
  • performance
  • anti-fragile confidence
  • sports culture

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Carolina Counseling for Athletes

Places: Charleston, SC

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