By Lauren Bernheim
When most parents talk about sports, they talk about stats. Goals scored. Games won. Scholarships earned.
But after years as a collegiate athlete, a mom of three kids in travel sports, and the founder of NeuroHealth Treatment Centers, I’ve learned there’s another scoreboard that matters; the one you can’t see from the stands.
It’s about whether our kids still love the game.
I’ll be the first to say it: sports can change a life. My years playing soccer taught me discipline, leadership, resilience, and how to be part of something bigger than myself. The friendships I built on the field—some of them across different countries—are still with me decades later.
For my kids, sports have given structure, a community, and the chance to challenge themselves in a way no screen or classroom ever could.
But I’ve also seen the flip side.
When sports become a year-round grind, the joy can slip away. Practice turns into an obligation. The pressure to perform—whether for the A team, a college scout, or just to keep up—can take the place of pure love for the game.
And when that happens, burnout is just around the corner.
At NeuroHealth, I see every day what happens when life gets out of balance—when demands on our time and energy leave no room to breathe. In youth sports, that imbalance can sneak in quickly.
Add in academics, social lives, and family schedules, and suddenly you’re not just juggling practices and games—you’re trying to keep your kid’s whole life from tipping over.
What Parents Can Do
Here’s what I focus on in my own family:
- Keep communication open. Ask how they’re feeling about their sport—not just their latest score.
- Protect downtime. Even the most driven athlete needs days that are just about being a kid.
- Watch for burnout signs. Less excitement before games, more irritability, slipping grades—these aren’t just “off days.”
- Choose the right environment. A great club will care about development, not just winning.
- Remember the odds. Less than 7% of high school athletes play in college. The bigger goal is raising a healthy, happy kid who still wants to kick the ball when no one’s watching.
I want my kids to look back and say, “I loved playing.” That’s it.
Because when the cleats are in the closet and the uniforms are gone, that joy—and the life skills they built along the way—will matter far more than any trophy.
About the Author
Lauren Bernheim is a former competitive soccer player, South Florida mom, and founder of NeuroHealthTreatment. She’s lived the youth sports hustle both on the field and from the sidelines
As a seasoned entrepreneur with several thriving businesses in the law, technology, and consulting industries, Lauren Bernheim brings an unparalleled level of perspective, expertise, and professionalism to each initiative she leads. After learning about the profound impacts of traumatic brain injury on mental health, Lauren became passionate about mental healthcare.
With a results-driven approach and an unwavering commitment to excellence, Lauren was determined to bring advanced treatment solutions to the market. She soon discovered Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) therapy, a groundbreaking advancement in the treatment of depression and other severe mental health conditions.
Drawing upon her decades of business success, Lauren embarked on a journey to establish a TMS practice that would redefine the standard of mental healthcare. She began by investing in the most advanced TMS device on the market, one that boasts the most precise treatment capabilities and leads the industry in delivering optimized results with an unsurpassed level of comfort and safety.
