Power Question #20: What did you think about during the warm-up?

Most parents never ask about warm-ups. That makes it one of the most interesting things you could ask about.

Why is this a power question?

The warm-up is a window into your child's pre-game mental state — and they almost never get the chance to articulate what's in their head before kickoff. Most kids carry a swirl of half-formed thoughts: nerves about the opponent, excitement, distraction, conversations with teammates, replays of the last game.

Asking "what did you think about during the warm-up?" gives them a structured prompt to look at their own internal experience. It builds self-awareness about pre-game state — which is one of the most under-coached aspects of youth development.

It also gently introduces the idea that what they do mentally in the warm-up matters — that the warm-up is part of the game, not just a procedural box to tick. Over years, that frame turns into a player who shows up to warm-ups intentional and ready, instead of just going through the motions.

What to do if you are uncomfortable asking the question

This one feels slightly weird to ask the first time. "What did you think about during the warm-up" isn't a normal parent question. That's okay.

Lead with curiosity, not strategy. You're not asking because you want them to think about something specific. You're asking because you want to know.

If they say "I don't know," try: "Were you nervous? Distracted? Just focused?" Three options is easier to answer than open-ended.

If they say "nothing," that's actually fine — and worth noting. Nothing during warm-up is itself a state worth paying attention to.

What you might learn

The answers are often illuminating:

"I was thinking about that math test on Monday." "I was nervous about playing right back." "I was just trying to feel the ball." "I was watching the other team to see who looked dangerous."

Each one of these tells you something different — about your child's focus, their pre-game anxieties, their developing tactical awareness, or what's distracting them from the game. The last one — watching the other team — is actually a sign of an evolved player. That's the kind of self-coaching habit that develops over years.

How you can probe for more if your player is interested

"Did it help?" — gets them to evaluate their own pre-game mindset.

"What do you usually think about?" — turns the moment into a pattern.

"Is there anything you'd want to think about instead?" — opens up the door to a pre-game routine, without forcing one.

A takeaway

The warm-up is part of the game. Players who walk into it intentional usually walk into kickoff sharper than players who don't. "What did you think about during the warm-up?" is the question that quietly starts building that intentionality — by simply asking your child to notice what they're already doing in those minutes.