Why Preseason Should Feel Hard (And Why That’s a Good Thing for Your Athlete)

If preseason feels uncomfortable right now, you’re not doing it wrong.

In fact—if it feels hard, messy, and a little frustrating… you’re probably doing it exactly right.

Every year, as softball preseason ramps up, I hear the same quiet worries from parents:

• “She’s striking out more than usual.”

• “Her mechanics look off.”

• “She seems frustrated after practice.”

• “Is she falling behind?”

Here’s the truth most people don’t talk about:

Preseason isn’t about being perfect.
It’s about being prepared.

And preparation doesn’t look pretty.

Preseason Isn’t the Time to Look Good

During the season, performance matters. Stats matter. Outcomes matter.

But preseason?
Preseason is where athletes are allowed—expected—to struggle.

This is the phase where:

• New mechanics are introduced

• Old habits are broken

• Conditioning is pushed

• Mental limits are tested

Of course it looks harder than mid-season reps. It’s supposed to.

When parents expect preseason to look polished, athletes start playing it safe. They avoid risks. They stay comfortable. And comfort is the enemy of growth.

Mistakes Now Prevent Meltdowns Later

One of the biggest gifts preseason gives your athlete is permission to fail—before the lights are on.

Mistakes made now:

• Don’t cost a game

• Don’t define a season

• Don’t follow her into the stat sheet

Instead, they teach her how to adjust.

A pitcher who loses the zone in February learns how to regain composure by April.
A hitter who struggles with timing in preseason learns how to compete through discomfort when it matters most.

The shock happens when failure only shows up during games.

Preseason mistakes are rehearsals.
Game-day pressure shouldn’t be the first time your athlete feels uncomfortable.

Pressure in Practice Builds Confidence in Games

Confidence doesn’t magically appear on opening day.

It’s built quietly—during tough reps, failed drills, and moments when quitting would be easier.

When preseason training includes pressure:

• Tough counts

• Game-speed reps

• Mental fatigue

• Physical stress

Athletes learn something powerful:

“I’ve been here before—and I survived.”

That familiarity with discomfort becomes calm in competition.

So when your daughter steps into the circle or the batter’s box and things don’t go her way, her nervous system doesn’t panic. She’s trained under harder conditions than this.

Failure Now = Freedom Later

This is the part most parents don’t realize.

Athletes who are allowed to fail in preseason play freer during the season.

Why?

Because they’ve already:

• Looked bad and lived through it

• Been corrected and improved

• Experienced struggle without judgment

They stop fearing mistakes.

And athletes who don’t fear mistakes:

• Swing more confidently

• Pitch more aggressively

• Compete more boldly

Perfection creates fear.
Preparation creates freedom.

Growth Lives in Discomfort (Not in Comfort)

It’s human nature to want things to look smooth—especially when it’s your child.

But the most meaningful growth rarely looks good while it’s happening.

Discomfort means:

• Muscles are adapting

• Skills are rewiring

• Mental toughness is forming

When preseason feels hard, your athlete is being stretched—not broken.

The danger isn’t that preseason is challenging.
The danger is when it isn’t challenging enough.

What Parents Can Do During Preseason

Your role during this phase is powerful.

Here’s how to support your athlete without adding pressure:

• Praise effort, not outcomes
  “I love how hard you worked today” goes further than “Did you do well?”

• Normalize struggle
  Remind her that discomfort is part of the process—not a sign of failure.

• Resist the urge to fix everything
  Coaches coach. Athletes adjust. Parents support.

• Zoom out
  One tough practice doesn’t define her ability—or her future.

The Big Picture

Softball seasons are short.
Development is long.

Preseason is where confidence is built, resilience is forged, and athletes learn who they are under pressure.

So if your daughter is tired.
If she’s frustrated.
If preseason feels hard…

Take a breath.

That’s growth happening in real time.