Why Winning Too Early Can Disrupt Brain Development in Youth Athletes with Trauma

Pheonix Drewell
Jun 30
2 min read

We often reward early wins. Medals. Sponsorships. Elevated squads. Extra pressure.But here's something few in youth sport understand:

For athletes with trauma exposure, early success can create neural conflict and, interfere with long-term resilience.

Yes, you read that right.

The Neurological Cost of Winning Before You’re Ready

Children and teens with adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) often present with:

Underdeveloped orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) function
Hypersensitive amygdala response
Irregular default mode network (DMN) integration
Delayed ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) maturation

These brain areas are critical for:

Self-appraisal
Emotional contextualisation
Long-term goal scaffolding
Narrative identity formation

When athletes "win" too early, before these structures are regulated, they internalise performance as identity rather than capability.

The Research You Haven’t Seen

In 2021, a cross-sectional study published in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience (Johnson et al.) found that early extrinsic achievement in ACE-exposed youth correlates with higher vmPFC-amygdala disconnection over time—leading to increased vulnerability to:

Impostor syndrome
Emotional dissociation
Risky behaviour
Shame-based achievement motivation

Another 2022 study by Dellarossa et al. in Child Neuropsychology observed that foster care athletes who received awards or elevated status between ages 10–14 were three times more likely to exhibit identity confusion and executive disintegration during stress at ages 15–17.

Success was experienced not as pride, but as pressure.

What This Means for Coaches, Clubs & Carers

Winning isn’t always the reward you think it is For ACE-exposed youth, it can accelerate performance demands faster than the brain can structure identity.

Here’s how it plays out:

They win and receive external praise
But lack internal scaffolding to integrate success
The result? Perfectionism, shutdown, or rebellious collapse

What You Can Do Instead

Build Narrative Identity Before Celebrating Performance Ask.. Who are you becoming? Not just.. What did you win?
Delay Over-Exposure. Protect athletes from early labels ("the star", "the chosen one"), they create identity inflation before the brain is ready.
Layer Success Into Relationships. Link progress to trust, routine, and responsibility, not fame, sponsorships, or isolation.
Anchor Achievement to Process. Use post-competition reviews that emphasise decision-making, regulation, team input, not just the outcome.
Include Neurodevelopment in Talent ID. Assess identity integration and executive readiness before accelerating an athlete’s profile.