Every young athlete runs two races. One unfolds on the field, the other in their head. And in that mental marathon, the loudest legs often belong not to opponents, but to parents, coaches, and friends on the sideline.
That’s the heartbeat of adidas’ You Got This campaign, a global movement that’s swapped the spotlight from superstars to the unsung supporters who keep kids in the game.
The latest episode, filmed in South Africa, shines a light on school sports, where futures are shaped not by trophies, but by the voices that cheer through every stumble.
“Go for it.” “Have fun.” “I’ll be watching.”
Three simple phrases. But as adidas points out, these aren’t filler—they’re fuel. They’re the emotional electrolytes that turn anxiety into joy, pressure into play.
And the need has never been greater. Research reveals the sobering stats: 91% of kids feel stress tied to sport.
More than 60% have thought about quitting. Dropout rates spike between 13 and 15, not from broken bones, but from broken spirits.
“Support can heal what pressure unravels,” adidas notes. It’s a reminder that the difference between a child lacing up again or leaving sport often comes down to what they hear when they glance toward the stands.
South Africa, with its sporting soul stitched into every dusty pitch and grassy school field, offers the perfect backdrop. Here, sport isn’t just pastime—it’s lifeline.
It teaches discipline, resilience, and the art of rising after every fall. But too often, joy is stolen before the race has really begun. Overbearing expectations and sideline scowls weigh heavier than any stopwatch.
That’s why You Got This feels more like a movement than a marketing line. It’s a baton, passed from parent to child, from coach to player.
The message is blunt: presence matters more than performance.
A kid who sees someone clapping in the rain, or smiling after a mistake, is far more likely to stay in the sport—and carry that confidence far beyond the field.
The brand film that anchors this episode doesn’t glorify miracle goals or record-breaking sprints.
Instead, it captures the small sacrifices: the packed lunches, the long drives, the nods of encouragement that echo longer than any medal ceremony. Because belief doesn’t begin with a starting gun. It begins with someone whispering, “You got this.”
And the stakes extend beyond sport. Protect the joy of play, and you protect future adults who know how to persevere, collaborate, and rise again.
Lose that joy, and you risk a generation burned out before they ever hit their stride.
So here’s to the invisible pacemakers, the mums, dads, guardians, coaches, and siblings who show up time and again.
They may never cross the finish line first, but without their cheers, half the race would never be run.
For more on adidas’ You Got This campaign, visit: adidas.co.za/yougotthis
