Before It’s Over: Making the Most of Your Athlete’s High School Sports Experience

High school sports offer student-athletes much more than the opportunity to compete. They build friendships, develop confidence, learn valuable life lessons, and create memories that can last a lifetime. But those opportunities don’t last forever.

That’s the idea behind Before It’s Over, a national campaign launched by Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) and the NFHS. The campaign encourages parents, coaches, and other adults to make the most of the high school sports experience by focusing on encouragement, connection, and personal growth rather than criticism and pressure. Because how adults show up today can shape how student-athletes remember their sports experiences tomorrow.

What Is the Before It’s Over Campaign?

Before It’s Over is a national effort to create more positive high school sports experiences by helping adults recognize the impact their words and actions have on athletes. Through their partnership, PCA and the NFHS provide parents, coaches, athletic directors, and schools with practical resources to help make that happen.

The campaign’s message is simple: High school sports won’t last forever, but the memories and lessons athletes take away can last a lifetime. More encouragement. Less criticism. More connection. Less pressure. More celebrating. Less blaming. It’s about helping athletes enjoy the experience, grow through challenges, and make the most of their time in sports. Learn more at morethislessthat.org.

Why Positive Sports Parenting Matters

Parents and caregivers have an enormous influence on their children’s sports experiences. From cheering in the stands to conversations on the ride home, their words and actions can affect an athlete’s confidence, enjoyment, and relationship with sports. While parents naturally want their children to succeed, an excessive focus on performance, playing time, and winning can sometimes create pressure that takes away from the experience.

The benefits of high school sports go well beyond the scoreboard. Athletics provide opportunities to develop teamwork, communication, resilience, and a sense of belonging. The 2026 NFHS National Parent Benchmark Study found that 91% of parents recognize school athletics and activities as an important part of education, while 80% believe participation has improved their student’s overall well-being. Positive sport parenting helps protect these benefits by making encouragement and personal growth priorities.

How Can Parents and Caregivers Support Athletes?

Starting with small, intentional changes in how we support athletes can make a big difference. 

Here are five ways to put the campaign’s message into practice.

1. More Encouragement, Less Criticism
   Recognize effort, improvement, perseverance, and good sportsmanship rather than focusing only on results. Celebrate what your athlete does well and remind them that their value isn’t determined by their performance.

2. More Support, Less Postgame Analysis
   Resist the urge to immediately critique mistakes or offer advice after a game. Instead, listen, let your student-athlete decide whether they want to talk, and ask simple questions like, “Did you have fun?” or say to them, “I love watching you play.” Your support shouldn’t depend on the scoreboard.

3. More Composure, Less Sideline Outbursts
   Cheer enthusiastically, respect officials, support coaches, and treat opponents with respect. Avoid yelling instructions from the stands or reacting negatively to mistakes and missed calls. Your athlete is watching how you handle competition, too.

4. More Learning, Less Pressure to Be Perfect
   Mistakes and setbacks are part of sports and provide valuable opportunities to grow. Help your athlete focus on what they can control, what they learned, and how they can improve rather than expecting perfection.

5. More Celebrating the Moment, Less Focusing on Outcomes
   Championships and wins aren’t the only things that make sports meaningful. Celebrate friendships, team traditions, personal milestones, and the everyday moments that make being part of a team special. Not every athlete will win a championship or compete for four years, but every athlete deserves to enjoy the experience.

Resources for Parents, Coaches, and Schools: The Before It’s Over Toolkit

Creating positive high school sports experiences takes a collective effort. The Before It’s Over campaign offers practical resources to help parents and caregivers, including the Parent’s Guide to Making the Most of High School Sports, game-day tips, and guidance on using phones and digital communication to support athletes. Additional resources address challenges such as playing time, sideline behavior, and parent self-care.

Schools and athletic departments can also help bring the campaign to their communities through downloadable materials, signage, parent communications, and educational resources. Athletic Directors and coaches can use these tools to reinforce positive expectations and help create a supportive environment for student-athletes. Visit morethislessthat.org to explore the campaign and access the toolkit.

Before It’s Over, Let’s Make Every Moment Count

High school sports are temporary, but the friendships, lessons, and memories they create can last a lifetime. Parents, coaches, and school leaders all have a role in making those experiences positive. 

More encouragement. Less criticism. More support. Less pressure. More celebrating the experience. Less worrying about the outcome.

Before it’s over, let’s make sure we’re giving student-athletes something worth remembering. Visit morethislessthat.org to explore the resources, download the toolkit, and join PCA and the NFHS in making high school sports better for every student-athlete.