ATHLETE SERIES: 5 Reasons Young Athletes Lose Motivation - And How To Fix It.

Motivation is not magic, and if yours keeps disappearing, this episode gives you the exact system to rebuild it. Dwayne Nestor breaks down how young athletes can create motivation from scratch, protect it when life gets messy, and use it to unlock confidence and self-efficacy.He shows why motivation is a skill you train, not a personality trait you either have or don’t. You’ll learn the difference between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, why one keeps athletes in the game longer, and how to find the right balance without relying on praise, trophies, or hype to get you moving.Dwayne shares a practical, science-backed framework for building motivation that actually lasts:set clear, bite-sized goals that create quick winscelebrate small progress to trigger dopamine and persistencebuild routines that remove decision fatigueaudit your inner circle because motivation is socially contagiousHe also gets real about why motivation drops in the first place. Burnout, invisible progress, toxic pressure, social media comparison, and life stress can all drain an athlete’s drive, and understanding the warning signs is the first step to fixing them.If you’re stuck in a rut, the recovery plan here is especially valuable. Dwayne walks through how to take strategic rest, reconnect with your “why,” inject novelty into training, talk openly before isolation takes over, and shift your focus back to effort and controllables. He also explains the neuroscience behind why action comes before motivation, and why the five-minute rule works when you feel completely flat.This is essential listening for young athletes, parents, and coaches who want a smarter approach to performance mindset. If you want more drive, less burnout, and a clearer way to build confidence from the inside out, this episode delivers the roadmap.Dwayne Nestor is the host of the Sporting Mindset Show and works with athletes and coaches through SISU Life, helping them develop the mental skills that support long-term performance and growth.