Taylor Smith, member of the PCA Leadership Council, is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. He has coached his own children, as well as counseled many youth in the San Francisco Bay Area. As a mental health professional Taylor sees how beneficial PCA can be to kids, coaches and parents.

Here, Smith talks about the anxiety of tryouts. He says that often kids express this anxiety in other behaviors like being snippy. He suggests parents deal with this by telling them you understand why they might be anxious or stressed, perhaps sharing a story about your own anxieties to relate. You can also talk about how even some professional athletes have been cut or didn't make a team. Finally, he suggests giving practical advice like "remember to breath." This type of conversation at least shows your child that you understand what they're going through.