Why ABM Can Feel Toxic (Especially for Juniors)

1️⃣ Survival-Based Culture (Not Development-Based)

ABM operates on an elimination model, not a nurturing one.

• Limited slots

• Constant internal ranking

• Players are always “replaceable”

👉 This creates:

• Fear of mistakes

• Playing not to lose, instead of to improve

• Comparison instead of self-mastery

📌 For mentally mature athletes, this sharpens performance.

📌 For developing juniors, it damages confidence.
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2️⃣ Internal Competition > External Competition

Inside ABM:

• You compete every training session

• Coaches compare players openly

• Selection anxiety never switches off

This leads to:

• Teammates hiding weaknesses

• Less sharing or support

• Quiet resentment

👉 The environment rewards short-term results, not long-term growth.
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3️⃣ One-Size-Fits-Many Coaching

ABM trains groups, not individuals.

That works when:

• Athletes are already complete

• Physical maturity is similar

It becomes toxic when:

• Late bloomers are compared unfairly

• Players with different learning styles are rushed

• Confidence drops faster than skills improve

📌 Outside ABM, weaknesses are fixed.

📌 Inside ABM, weaknesses are often exposed repeatedly.
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4️⃣ Early Labeling (“This One Can / This One Cannot”)

One of the most damaging aspects.

• Players are quietly labelled early

• First impressions stick

• Recovery from early struggles is hard

This causes:

• Self-fulfilling prophecy

• Coaches investing less attention

• Player internalising “I’m not good enough”

👉 Once belief drops, performance follows.
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5️⃣ Limited Emotional Safety

In elite systems:

• Toughness is valued

• Vulnerability is not

For juniors:

• No space to fail safely

• Emotions are seen as weakness

• Burnout is common

📌 Some athletes grow tougher.

📌 Many grow numb or anxious.
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Who Suffers MOST in ABM?

❌ Early developers who peak too soon

❌ Late bloomers

❌ Sensitive, emotionally fragile or perfectionist athletes

❌ Players whose confidence is externally driven

These players often:

• Lose joy

• Plateau early

• Quit by 18–20
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Who THRIVES in ABM?

✅ Athletes who:

• Enter physically ready

• Already know how to win ugly

• Have strong identity before entry

• Don’t need validation

📌 These players use ABM, not depend on it.
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Why Results Still Come from ABM (Important Truth)

Despite issues, ABM:

• Has volume of talent

• Provides international exposure

• Accelerates ready players

So the system produces winners, but it also loses many quietly.

👉 You only see the survivors. The resilient ones are the ones that last.
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The Critical Misunderstanding

❌ “ABM makes champions”

✅ “ABM sharpens champions who are already formed”

That difference explains everything.
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What This Means for Kiera (Straight Answer)

Keeping Kiera outside ABM for now:

• Protects confidence

• Allows individual correction

• Builds internal belief

• Makes her enter ABM with leverage

📌 A confident late entrant is harder to break.
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Final Thought (Very Important)

ABM is high-pressure, not evil.

But pressure without readiness = toxicity.

The smartest families:

• Don’t rush entry

• Let results force selection

• Choose timing, not prestige.