Here's something worth reminding your young athlete: most of what happens in sports is completely outside their control.
The final score. The ref's calls. Whether the coach puts them in during the crucial moment. The weather. The other team. The kid on the opposing side who's six inches taller and apparently been playing since birth.
None of that is up to them. And honestly? That's a relief once you accept it.
But two things are always, completely, 100% within their control: their attitude and their effort.
The best part? Neither one requires elite talent. They're choices. And they're available to every athlete, every single day.
What Coaches Actually Notice
Parents often assume coaches are scanning the field for the most skilled players. And sure, talent matters. But ask any coach what they're really looking for, and you'll hear the same thing over and over again: give me the kid who works hard and shows up with the right attitude.
Skill can be taught. Speed can be developed. But the willingness to give full effort, even when things aren't going your way? That's harder to coach. And it's one of the biggest differentiators between players who grow and players who plateau.
There's a term that captures this better than "effort" alone: work rate.
What Is Work Rate?
Work rate isn't just about trying hard. It's about consistent, relentless hustle. It's the player who gives their best in every drill, every game, every moment, whether someone is watching or not.
Effort can be performative. A kid can look like they're working hard when the coach glances over and then coast the rest of the time.
Work rate is different. It's sustained. It's internal. It's the engine that runs even when no one's keeping score.
And here's the thing: coaches see it. Teammates feel it. It's one of those intangible qualities that's hard to define but impossible to miss.
What High Work Rate Looks Like on the Field
If you're wondering whether your athlete has a high work rate, here's what to look for:
They chase down every ball. Even the ones that look like lost causes. Even the ones heading out of bounds. They sprint anyway, because you never know.
They don't jog when they could run. Tired legs aren't an excuse to coast. High work rate players push through fatigue and find another gear when it matters.
They're focused and coachable. They make eye contact during instructions. They nod. They apply feedback immediately instead of brushing it off or arguing.
They set the tone at practice. They don't wait for someone else to bring the energy. They show up ready to work, and their effort raises the level of everyone around them.
They compete on defense. Instead of watching and hoping someone else makes a play, they fight to win the ball back. Every time.
They move without the ball. They're not standing around waiting for something to happen. They're creating space, supporting teammates, anticipating the next play.
None of this requires being the fastest, strongest, or most skilled player on the team. It just requires a decision to show up differently.
Why This Matters More Than Talent
A high work rate doesn't just make a player stand out. It transforms teams.
Coaches love players who give everything they have because that energy is contagious. When one kid hustles, others follow. When one kid refuses to quit on a play, the whole team raises its intensity.
And beyond the field, work rate translates to life. The students who outwork their classmates often outperform them, regardless of natural ability. The employees who show up early, stay late, and bring energy to their work tend to rise faster than the ones coasting on talent alone.
Hustle. Resilience. A willingness to do the extra work when no one's watching. These are the traits that separate leaders from everyone else. And they start on the practice field.
How Parents Can Help (Without Being Annoying About It)
You can't force your kid to have a high work rate. But you can create the conditions where it's more likely to develop.
Praise effort, not just results. When you notice your kid giving full effort, say something. "I saw you sprinting back on defense even when you were tired. That was awesome." Specific praise reinforces the behavior you want to see.
Don't rescue them from hard moments. When practice is tough or a coach pushes them, resist the urge to intervene. Those uncomfortable moments are where work ethic gets built.
Model it yourself. Kids notice how adults approach hard work. If they see you putting in effort, following through on commitments, and maintaining a good attitude when things get difficult, they're more likely to do the same.
Ask better questions. Instead of "Did you win?" or "Did you score?", try "Did you give your best effort today?" or "What's something you worked hard on?" This shifts the focus to what they can control.
Let them own it. Ultimately, work rate has to come from within. You can encourage it, but you can't manufacture it. The more your child feels like sports are theirs (not yours), the more likely they are to bring real effort.
The Question Worth Asking
If your athlete wants to stand out, here's the question to sit with:
Are you maximizing the things you can control?
Not the things you wish you could control. Not the playing time, the calls, the lineup decisions. The stuff that's actually up to you.
Are you showing up with a good attitude, even on days when you don't feel like it?
Are you pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone, even when no one's watching?
Are you the kind of teammate who raises the energy of the group, or the kind who waits for someone else to set the tone?
Skill will take an athlete far. But work rate and attitude will take them further.
The Bottom Line
Your young athlete can't control the outcome. They can't control the competition, the coaches, or the circumstances.
But they can control how hard they work and how they show up.
That's not a small thing. That's everything.
Be the player who sets the tone. Who fights for every ball. Who refuses to be outworked.
That's the athlete every coach wants on their team. And it has nothing to do with talent.
Ian Goldberg is the CEO of Signature Media and the Editor of the largest and fastest growing sports parenting newsletter. He’s been recognized as an industry expert by the National Alliance for Youth Sports, the US Olympic Committee’s Truesport, and the Aspen Institute's Project Play. Ian is also a suburban NJ sports dad of two teenage daughters and has over 2,000 hours of volunteer time coaching them (which he calls the most fun form of R&D for his newsletter content). Ian and his team provide players, coaches, parents and program directors with the articles and content they need to have a great sports season. Ian has spent most of his career in digital product development and marketing and got his start at the White House where he worked for the economic advisors to two US Presidents.
