When the Pressure Feels Too Heavy: Praying for Our Kids’ Peace on Game Day

Performance anxiety doesn’t just happen to pro athletes. It can show up at any age — in a 5th grader’s first rec game, in a high school region game, or even at the college level. As a Sports Momma, I’ve learned that sometimes the biggest battle our kids face isn’t against their opponent… it’s against the pressure they put on themselves.

Our oldest daughter, Kasiah, was an amazing volleyball player who really began to shine around age 14. She had the athletic ability, the leadership skills, and the personality to be an ideal team captain. I’ll never forget one large club tournament when her team had just won the semi-finals. She had played an incredible game. But the moment it ended, she ran straight to her daddy and cried.

It wasn’t sadness — it was the weight of perfection. She was so stressed out, so determined to play flawlessly, that the tears just came. That was the first time I started praying intentionally for her anxiety, asking God to give her peace in the middle of her passion.

Our son Titus faced it too — and at an even younger age. He was about 10 when he came to us and said he wasn’t sure if he wanted to play football anymore. He loved the game, but as the quarterback (and with his dad, Greg, as his coach) he felt constant pressure to be the best. To him, it wasn’t just about winning — it was about not letting us down as his parents.

He chose to keep playing, but I could always see the strain in him before big games, even into high school. Now, as a college athlete, he’s in a battle for QB1, and my prayers for him haven’t changed — I still ask God to quiet the stress and replace the pressure with confidence.

Our youngest, Chiloh, began dealing with anxiety as early as 3rd grade. I started praying 2 Timothy 1:7 over her back then: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.”

I believe her anxiety was one reason she hesitated to play sports, even though we never pressured her. We could see her natural competitiveness and talent, and Greg encouraged her to try because he thought it might help her confidence. She started volleyball around age 10 in rec, and even then, the nerves were there.

By the time she joined club volleyball, she had learned to manage it better — but the butterflies never went away.

Praying Through Every Season

With all four of our kids, one thing stayed the same: we prayed. Before every football game, I was blessed to be home so we could pray together — in the car on the way to meet the bus, or at home before they left. Before every volleyball tournament, whether local or out-of-state, we prayed in the car or in the hotel.

These prayers weren’t just for good plays or a win — they were for steady hearts, calm minds, and the reminder that their worth is never tied to a scoreboard.

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The Prayer I Come Back To

This prayer from Prayers from the Sidelines has carried me through so many seasons:

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. — 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)

God, You see what’s going on inside my child — especially in those moments when nerves take over, when the pressure feels overwhelming, and when fear of failure starts to crowd out joy. So right now, I pray You would quiet every anxious thought and steady every shaky breath. Let Your peace calm their spirit and remind them that they are not alone in this.

I hold on to Philippians 4:6–7 for them: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God… and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Guard their mind, Lord. Help them refocus on what matters — effort over outcome, faith over fear, Your voice over the noise.

Let them walk into every game, every tryout, every pressure-filled moment with confidence — not in their perfection, but in their preparation and in Your presence. Replace self-doubt with strength. Replace “what if I fail?” with “even if I do, God is still with me.” Let Your Spirit remind them that their identity is secure and their worth isn't on the line.

Amen.

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If your child feels the weight of performance — mama, you’re not alone. Keep showing up. Keep speaking truth. And keep praying for peace over pressure. Because one day, they’ll remember less about the stats… and more about the prayers that carried them through.