Last Updated: August 12, 2025 by Michael Kahn. Published: August 12, 2025.
Needless to say, parenting a teen can be tough, right? Sure, it’s rewarding, but there’s just so much you have to consider nonstop, especially if you have a teen who’s in extracurricular activities, specifically a sport. So, yeah, if you’ve got a teen in sports, then you probably know the routine. One week it’s try-outs and excitement, the next it’s extra practices, away games, and a laundry pile that smells like it could walk itself to the washing machine. It’s all like a blessing, but also a curse, right?
But in general, they start the season buzzing with energy, but somewhere around mid-season, that buzz turns into dragging their feet out the door. Now, you’d think health as a teen would be fairly easy, right? But believe it or not, staying healthy and performing well for months takes way more than just sheer talent and enough sleep. It’s actually those day-to-day habits, and as a parent, you really need to push those.
Keep their Fuel Tank Full
Well, for starters, teen athletes aren’t exactly famous for balanced diets. Basically, if left to their own devices, they’ll grab an energy drink and a packet of Cheetos and call it a pre-practice meal. That’s a fast track to burnout. Yeah, junk food and teens definitely go hand in hand. But you need to make sure they’ve got proper fuel in the tank. So, you need to think of a mix of protein, carbs, and healthy fats, so they can power through practice and still have enough energy for homework.
Okay, but what about hydration? It’s non-negotiable. Okay, yes, as a parent, and just as an adult, you already knew this. If their water bottle is always mysteriously missing, consider getting them one they actually like carrying around (a lot of teens seem to love Stanley cups and bottles, so you could look into that).
Protect their Sleep at All Costs
So, between school, sports, and social lives, sleep is usually the first thing to go. But those late nights can hit performance harder than a bad tackle, or whatever bad thing you want to compare it to in a sport. Their bodies need rest to recover and build strength, and teens ideally need eight to ten hours. Help them create a bedtime routine that doesn’t involve scrolling until 1 a.m. Sometimes that means gently enforcing “screens off” earlier, even if it earns you the classic teenage eye roll.
Get the Health Check Done before the Whistle Blows
Yeah, yeah, this one is super obvious, but you would be surprised how often parents brush this off, either due to laziness or just flat-out thinking it’s not a big deal. But yeah, it’s not just about ticking a box for the coach. Just generally speaking, sports physicals give you peace of mind that your teen is physically ready for the demands of the season. They can flag any underlying issues before they turn into real problems. Honestly, you can just think of it like checking the tires before a road trip; you wouldn’t skip it and hope for the best.
Don’t Ignore those Aches
Well, the whole point of a physical is to make sure they’re doing just fine, and the same goes for checking out those aches as well. So, teenagers are notorious for thinking they’re invincible, but small pains can become season-ending injuries if ignored. Those little pains can build up and become way worse over time. So always take this seriously rather than the “walk it off” mentality.
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