The Importance of Passion & Purpose for Young Athletes’ Success

Cathy Spaas was a professional equestrian show jumper at a young age and knows what it’s like to suffer from pressure. 

Spaas was riding international shows at the age of 14, but, in response to pressure from her dad, began to feel like she was never good enough.

“I think I gave away too much of my own power because I felt so dependent on my dad’s approval for a really long time,” she said. “When I was 16, it all started to go downhill and I lost all confidence.”

Her goal as performance coach at Cathy Spaas Academy is to ensure that athletes avoid her experience and find “sustainable success” in sports, she said.


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Every day, we receive letters from parents like you who want their children and teens to excel in sports. However, these parents can see fear, doubt, and frustration on the faces of their kids who struggle with the “inner” game of sports. But these parents have no idea how to help their kids overcome the worries, expectations and self-defeating thoughts that prevent their young athletes from feeling confident and successful. 

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