For years I carried a chip on my shoulder about the coaches who overlooked my boys. They were truly underestimated—passed over for teams, minutes, and recognition. Every slight lit a fire in me, and without even trying, I passed that fire to my sons.
At first, it was frustration. But that chip also became fuel. My boys felt it too, and instead of folding, they used it as self-motivation. They stayed late, put in extra reps, and sharpened their skills not because I told them to, but because they wanted to prove themselves. Our shared chip became a shared drive.
Looking back, I see how powerful that experience was. The overlooked years gave them mental toughness, discipline, and a hunger no trophy could teach. But I also learned that as a parent, I had to balance that fuel with support, so the chip didn’t become a burden. It had to be their fire, not my frustration.
And yes — their mom always had a front-row seat to my chip. She’d send me memes about “letting go of the chip on your shoulder” and jokes about me carrying an entire bag of chips. It became our running joke, and it also reminded me to lighten up and keep perspective.
Today, I’m proud of how they turned doubt into drive. The same coaches who once overlooked them now covet their leadership, skills, and relentless work ethic. Our journey taught me that being underestimated can be a gift — as long as we channel it into self-belief and growth rather than bitterness.
The Lesson for Parents
If you’re a parent reading this, remember: your reaction to being overlooked can become your child’s reaction. Use it to build their confidence, not their resentment. And maybe listen when your significant other sends you memes about letting it go — they’re probably right.
One of the most powerful tools I wish we’d had early on was a clear way to measure where my sons stood — something objective we could track over time instead of relying on opinions or politics. That’s why we created the Athlete Readiness Index (ARI).
Introducing the Athlete Readiness Index (ARI)
The ARI is a free 15-question assessment designed to help parents and athletes:
- See exactly how their athlete stacks up in key readiness areas
- Benchmark progress against peers
- Identify the biggest opportunities for improvement
- Turn “being overlooked” into a clear plan for growth
It takes less than three minutes and gives you an instant score plus a benchmark comparison. If my boys had something like this early on, it would have taken so much guesswork out of their journey.
Take the Free ARI Assessment
If you’re wondering how ready your athlete really is, you don’t have to guess. Take the free Athlete Readiness Index — 15 quick questions, under 3 minutes — and instantly get your athlete’s readiness score and benchmark comparison.
Closing Thought
Being underestimated can feel like a setback, but with the right mindset and tools it becomes an advantage. By combining support with clear feedback — and by using tools like the ARI to measure and guide your athlete’s growth — you can transform frustration into fuel and doubt into drive.