A Parent’s Weekly Check-In: Listen Before You Add More
Updated: Oct 6
By Coach Nabil · Nabil Issa Kone · Prepared October 4, 2026
The takeaway: Give the athlete a voice before deciding what the next week needs.
Parents are part of my coaching team. You often see the young person’s week more fully than I do. A brief, calm conversation can help us understand what support to discuss next.
Five questions I suggest
What did you enjoy this week?
What felt difficult to manage?
What do you want your coach to understand?
What helped you arrive prepared?
What is one thing you would like help with next week?
These are conversation prompts, not a screening test. There is no score to pass. Let your athlete answer in their own words, and do not turn every response into an immediate correction.
Listen, then share the useful picture
Write down the schedule and the athlete’s question. Contact me privately with the information relevant to coaching. You do not need to post health concerns, personal assessments or family information in a community group.
The American Academy of Pediatrics describes how pressure and loss of enjoyment can contribute to burnout and leaving sport. That is one reason I want our conversations to include the athlete’s experience, alongside training priorities.
Agree on one next step
Our next step might be clarifying an assigned task, discussing scheduling or arranging a fuller conversation. It should fit the individual situation. Do not use a general article to increase or replace an athlete’s prescribed training.
If the conversation reveals an injury concern or a need beyond coaching, seek the appropriate professional support. I can work within agreed coaching boundaries and communicate with the parent or guardian.
Reflect together: What did you learn by listening without interrupting?
Source
AAP: Overuse Injuries, Overtraining, and Burnout in Young Athletes (2024). The five questions are my suggested coaching conversation, not a validated assessment.
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