Developing Young Leaders: Stress-We Need it To Grow

November 4, 2024

Developing Young Leaders: Stress-We Need it To Grow

How we view stress can be the difference in it HELPING us grow or HURTING us grow.

Over the past few weeks in our Long-Term Athletic Development (LTAD) program, we’ve been focusing on labeling your level of stress and understanding the different zones we all go through which we’ve defined as:
The Comfort Zone
The Growth Zone
The Fear Zone

As the world has changed, it’s easy to put a label on stress as something bad—something to avoid at all costs. While it’s true that stress can accumulate and lead to us feeling overwhelmed, make us want to avoid doing certain things, and can be down right debilitating… but we must also consider stress as a key ingredient for growth.

Last week, we used one of our Prototype Performance and Recovery tools with the LTAD team to replicate how this shows up in everyday life. The group experienced their first cold plunge, which can be quite a stressful exercise. The buildup before entering the cold water and the initial shock is synonymous with how we overthink or project something may be worse than it actually is.

However, as you sit in the cold, you battle not just the physical discomfort but also the mental challenges that arise. I was impressed to see all the kids participate, with some reaching the five-minute mark with a full dunk—shoutout to Aiden, Carter, and George! 

This experience was analogous to how we can pull ourselves out of the Fear Zone and into the Growth Zone. We’ve been discussing how quickly we can transition from fear to growth as a significant factor in building resilience.

The kids shared some real-life examples of being in the “Fear Zone”:

Making a mistake in a soccer game: “Once I make one mistake, I just think about not wanting to make another, and I end up not wanting the ball again.”


Taking a big test: “I study, but once I get started, I start second-guessing myself. I get in my head and can't focus.”


These examples highlight the importance of identifying where we stand on our stress meter. If we are merely flipping between fear and comfort, we miss opportunities for growth from the stress we encounter. One thing we are working on is recognizing when we face stress and seeing it as an opportunity for development. This understanding was reinforced during the cold plunge, as it provided a fun way for the kids to see this concept in real time.

In the past couple of weeks, we’ve hosted two high school girls’ soccer teams, Westborough and Hopkinton, for performance and recovery sessions as they head into the state cup playoffs. This was a great opportunity for team bonding, but we also emphasized that recovery is much more than just resting when muscles are sore—it’s a trainable skill. Proactive recovery involves baking in habits that help you bounce back as quickly as possible.

Waiting until you’re sore to add recovery to your training can be detrimental; the same applies to the mental side of life. If you wait until you’re overwhelmed or overly stressed to focus on recovery, it may be too late. You might not have built the resilience necessary to bounce back swiftly. I believe true resilience isn’t about preventing hard things from happening; it’s about how quickly you can process challenges and recover from them. Stress serves as the stimulus for growth, and recovery is where that growth occurs. Those who can recover faster will experience growth more quickly and won’t get knocked out of the game.

Previous Blogs

By Mike Collette April 3, 2025
The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.
Women Training After 40
By Mike Collette April 3, 2025
Women and men are different, as women age there are different and often more changes than in men. It's important to know how this impacts your health and how you can adjust your training!
March 23, 2025
“Can pre-teen and teen athletes really make improvements as the season goes on?” That’s a question I get all the time. And the answer is simple: Absolutely. But… they may not if all they’re doing is playing their sport. Wait, Isn’t Playing Enough? It’s not that playing their sport isn’t valuable—it’s hugely important! That’s where kids compete, have fun, and apply what they’ve learned. But here’s the kicker: it’s not where kids build new skills. It’s not where they improve movement mechanics, body control, or physical literacy. That happens in training. Playing their sport is the test. Training is the homework. So What Kind of Training Are We Talking About? I’m not saying your 10-year-old needs a lifting program or 5 a.m. workouts. I’m talking about focused, age-appropriate athletic development. Here’s what to look for: • Balance • Coordination • Strength through movement • Core control • Focus and body awareness • Drills that challenge the athlete as a whole, not just as a soccer or baseball player. But Isn’t That What Practice Is For? In theory, yes! But let’s be honest—most practices during the season are all about preparing for the next game. Coaches focus on tactics, plays, and who’s starting Saturday. That’s not a knock on coaches—they’re doing their job! But this focus often means your child’s individual development takes a back seat. Won’t Kids Burn Out If We Add More? Only if it’s the wrong type of more. The right kind of training isn’t exhausting—it’s energizing! It builds confidence and helps kids feel stronger, more in control, and less likely to get hurt. We’re not adding stress. We’re adding support. I have had a few parents share with me that when their athlete goes to practices after LTAD they play their best. Thats because there is a difference between a "workout" and a training session. LTAD isn't designed to put the athletes through a tough workout. Its a training session just like one of their practices for their sport it the goal is just a little different, its to make them a better athlete. So What Should I Do As a Parent? Look for a training environment that focuses on movement quality, fun challenges, and coaching that understands how kids learn. Keep it consistent, even during the season. We offer a few at Prototype thought our Youth Fundamentals classes and LTAD (Long Term Athletic Development) classes. And most importantly: Don’t assume playing their sport is enough. Because your athlete has more potential than what shows up on game day—and training is what unlocks it. Engaging your pre-teen / Teen in focused training can make a world of difference! It’s all about balancing play with the right kind of development. So get out there, find that perfect training environment, and watch your young athlete thrive! You can reach me with any questions @ steve@prototypetraining.com Steve Cimino Director of Youth Development Prototype Training Systems
More Posts

Climb to New Heights

Prototype Training Systems is more than a gym - it is a lifestyle. Join us today!

Book Free No-Sweat Intro
Share by:
Wodify Iframe