The moment:

Showcase weekend. Three college coaches are standing near the sideline with clipboards. Your athlete knows they're there. You can tell by the way they carried themselves through warmup — a little stiffer, a little more deliberate. Like they were performing warmup instead of just doing it.

The insight:

When athletes know they're being evaluated, attention turns inward. They start watching themselves play — monitoring every touch, every decision — instead of just playing. That split attention is what makes them look different than they do on a regular Saturday. The coaches aren't seeing their best. They're seeing a player who knows they're being watched.

One thing to try:

The night before, say this once: "The coaches came to see you play — not to see you perform for them. Play for the game. That's what they're looking for." Then don't bring it up again in the morning. One clear frame the night before is more useful than a pep talk at the field.