Every sport is already teaching your kid something about pressure, whether anybody names it or not. All twelve qualities turn up in any season. What changes is which ones a sport hits hardest, and how long a kid gets to recover before the next play.
The best hitters fail seven times out of ten. Long gaps between plays, and a lot of time alone with a mistake.
Hardest on: Composure, perseverance, focus, accountabilitySmall rosters, everyone plays both ways, and a missed flag has your name on it. Almost no time to reset before the next play.
Hardest on: Communication, adaptability, accountability, teamworkNo timeouts to regroup. The mistake is still happening when the next decision arrives.
Hardest on: Adaptability, focus, teamwork, resilienceFive on the floor, the score changes every trip, and getting subbed out happens in front of everyone.
Hardest on: Composure, courage, communication, resilienceNobody to blame and nobody to hide behind. Improvement comes in tenths, and some seasons it doesn't come at all.
Hardest on: Discipline, perseverance, curiosity, accountabilityNo teammates, and in most junior matches the players call their own lines.
Hardest on: Integrity, composure, adaptability, courageBetween them, these six sports put every one of the twelve under real pressure. If your kid is working on one, this is where it'll come up most.
Tested hardest in Baseball, Basketball and Tennis.
Tested hardest in Flag football, Soccer and Tennis.
Tested hardest in Basketball and Tennis.
Tested hardest in Tennis.
Tested hardest in Swimming.
Tested hardest in Baseball, Flag football and Swimming.
Tested hardest in Flag football and Soccer.
Tested hardest in Flag football and Basketball.
Tested hardest in Soccer and Basketball.
Tested hardest in Swimming.
Same twelve either way. Watch for one at the next game, ask about it in the car, and the car ride home guide works for any sport.