Under Pressure: How to Thrive in a Hyper-Competitive Youth Sport World

Youth sport today asks more of young people than ever before. Selection starts earlier, competition runs deeper, and pressure moments arrive before many athletes have the skills to cope. When this gap exists, confidence wavers, enjoyment fades, and potential remains untapped.

In this keynote, Dr Craig Harrison reveals what’s really happening under pressure, and what it takes to thrive within it. Drawing on developmental science, lived stories from youth sport, and practical tools, this session shifts the conversation from “handling pressure” to working with it.

First, you’ll learn how the adolescent brain, stress response, and social dynamics influence behaviour under pressure. Then, you’ll discover how to build the skills to meet pressure moment by moment, and create the conditions for confident, adaptable performance.

Who is this talk for?
- Parents of youth athletes wanting to better support their child
- Coaches of youth athletes wanting to develop more resilient players
- Teen athletes wanting to perform under pressure

The Magdalinos Room - Doors open 645 PM for a 7 PM start

About Dr Craig Harrison:
With over 20 years’ experience working with developing athletes, coaches, and families, Craig is one of New Zealand’s leading voices on helping young people thrive in sport. His work blends cutting-edge research in long-term athlete development and child psychology with real-world stories from schools, clubs, and academies around the world.

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