More Than A Game: Changing the Playbook On Athlete Well

Kweku’s Korner

By Tiffany Taylor, LCSW BCD

Tiffany Taylor, LCSW BCD

For the past eight years, I’ve spent countless hours on the sidelines, not as a clinician or scholar, but as a sports mom. I’ve watched my child wrestle with anxiety before a big game, carry the weight of expectations, and navigate the highs and lows of performing under pressure. I’ve also seen teammates and other young athletes struggle with deeper battles around identity, sexuality, and belonging. These behind-the-scenes moments rarely make the highlight reel, yet they profoundly shape how young athletes show up for themselves and their teams.

To put it in sports terms: This isn’t the warmup, it’s the main event. Our athletes need more than drills, playbooks, and pep talks. They need care circles and environments tha