Raising Elite Competitors

Latest Episodes:

How to Prepare Your Daughter for Tryouts (Without the Stress) Jul 28, 2026

Show notes

Preparing her for tryouts is more about your calm than her skill. Learn more about how we help you help her → https://trainhergame.com/mom
***Resources & Tools***
FREE for YOU:
🎓 Strengthen Your Athlete's Mental Game - Training for Parents → https://trainhergame.com/mom
📬 Join our weekly TIPS newsletter → https://sportsmom.fyi/yt-tips
💬 Use this Conversation Guide w/ Scripts to talk to your athlete about mental training → https://sportsmom.fyi/convo-guide
🎙 Listen to the Podcast: Raising Elite Competitors
FREE for Athletes:
🔹 Share with your athlete: What's Your Competitor Style Quiz → https://athlete.fyi/yt-quiz
🎥 YouTube Playlist for Athletes → https://www.youtube.com/@AthleteMentalEdge
OUR SIGNATURE PROGRAMS:
👉 Join The Elite Mental Game for girl athletes → https://trainhergame.com/yt-emg
***Connect with us***
IG: ➡︎ https://www.instagram.com/elitecompetitorcoach
Tik Tok: ➡︎ https://www.tiktok.com/@raisingelitecompetitors
YouTube: ➡︎ SUBSCRIBE 🙌🏼 and hang out in our community here with us!
***⏰ Key Timestamps***
00:00 Intro & Community Shoutout
01:44 Check Your Own Nerves First
02:46 Defining Her Goals for Tryouts
05:14 Practical Prep for Tryout Day
06:53 Mental Training Tools
09:52 Handling Disappointment & Resilience
11:06 Wrap-Up & Final Encouragement
👋🏼 I'm Coach Bre — a mental performance coach for girl athletes, Co-Founder of The Elite Competitor, and a former head volleyball coach and 4-time state champion.
Tryout season brings out nerves in both of you, and most of what actually helps happens before tryout day even arrives. This episode walks through how to prepare her without adding pressure, what coaches are really watching for, and how to handle it if the outcome isn't what she hoped.
What You'll Learn:
✅ How to check your own tryout stress before it becomes hers - What to do in the weeks (not just the day) before tryouts
✅ The intangibles coaches are really scoring, beyond skill (hustle, resilience, teammate energy)
✅ Simple mental tools for the lead-up: breathwork, visualization, and the Snapback Routine
✅ How to handle disappointment after tryouts without raising a victim mindset
💬 Moms — comment below: What's your go-to thing to say to her in the days before tryouts?
P.S. A few stats worth knowing:
⚡️ Girls who quit sports are far more likely to have had parents who pressured them to play or compared them to other players (Aspen Institute / Project Play National Youth Athlete Survey, 2026)
⚡️ Self-talk interventions produce a measurable, moderate improvement in athletic performance, especially on newly-learned skills, exactly the conditions of a tryout (Hatzigeorgiadis et al., Perspectives on Psychological Science, 2011)
⚡️ Diaphragmatic breathing measurably lowers cortisol, the body's stress hormone, in athletes under physical stress (Martarelli et al., Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2011)
The Raising Elite Competitors podcast and YouTube channel is hosted by The Elite Competitor and is dedicated to helping sports moms strengthen their daughter's mental game and confidence in order to help her perform her best when it matters most.
#sportsmom #tryoutseason #mentalperformance #girlssports #sportsparenting

Join our FREE live training for sports parents: The Do's and Don'ts of Strengthening Your Athlete's Mental Game! -> REGISTER HERE

Your Daughter's Intensity Isn't the Problem, It's the Advantage Jul 24, 2026

Show notes

Your daughter's intensity might be her biggest advantage, not a problem to fix.
***Resources & Tools***
FREE for YOU:
🎓 Strengthen Your Athlete's Mental Game - Training for Parents → https://trainhergame.com/mom
📬 Join our weekly TIPS newsletter → https://sportsmom.fyi/yt-tips
💬 Use this Conversation Guide w/ Scripts to talk to your athlete about mental training → https://sportsmom.fyi/convo-guide
🎙 Listen to the Podcast: Raising Elite Competitors
FREE for Athletes:
🔹 Share with your athlete: What's Your Competitor Style Quiz → https://athlete.fyi/yt-quiz
🎥 YouTube Playlist for Athletes → https://www.youtube.com/@AthleteMentalEdge
OUR SIGNATURE PROGRAMS:
👉 Join The Elite Mental Game for girl athletes → https://trainhergame.com/yt-emg
***Connect with us***
IG: ➡︎ https://www.instagram.com/elitecompetitorcoach
Tik Tok: ➡︎ https://www.tiktok.com/@raisingelitecompetitors
YouTube: ➡︎ SUBSCRIBE 🙌🏼 and hang out in our community here with us!
Learn more about Wendy and Fresh Start Family!
Wendy Snyder — certified positive parenting educator & family life coach, Founder of Fresh Start Family, host of The Fresh Start Family Show
Book: Fresh Start Your Family: Powerful Parenting to Restore Peace in Your Home (Wiley)
Instagram: @freshstartwendy (not @frustratewendy)
Website: https://freshstartfamilyonline.com
***⏰ Key Timestamps***
00:00 Introduction: The Gift of Strong-Willed Kids
01:22 Meet Wendy Snyder & Fresh Start Family
02:54 Wendy's Journey Raising a Strong-Willed Daughter
03:59 From Autocratic to Firm-and-Kind Parenting
09:07 What Is a Cactus Kid?
10:57 Traits of Strong-Willed Kids & Future Leaders
16:06 Coaching Cactus Kids: Earning Respect
20:46 Compassionate Discipline vs. Punishment
22:29 Handling Intensity Without Disrespect
27:13 Teaching Peaceful Conflict Resolution & Win-Win
33:30 Team Conversations & Detachment Skills
38:23 Red Flags in Coaching & When to Step In
43:21 Closing Thoughts & Where to Find Wendy
👋🏼 I'm Coach Bre — a mental performance coach for girl athletes, Co-Founder of The Elite Competitor, and a former head volleyball coach and 4-time state champion.
🎙 Joining me this week is Wendy Snyder, certified positive parenting educator, family life coach, and founder of Fresh Start Family. Wendy raised her own strong-willed daughter into a Division I beach volleyball recruit, and now teaches thousands of families how to do the same.
Wendy talks about raising what she calls "cactus kids," beautiful, strong-willed kids who are a lot to handle if nobody's taught you how. If your daughter comes home intense after a bad game, argues with the ref in her head for days, or gets side-eyed for having "too much" personality, this one's for you.
What You'll Learn:
✅ Why "strong-willed" and "intense" aren't warning signs, they're leadership traits in disguise
✅ The real difference between an intense athlete and a disrespectful one
✅ A simple win-win script to help your daughter work through teammate conflict without shame
✅ What to actually say (and not say) when a coach flags her attitude
✅ How to know when to step in with a coach, and when to let her handle it herself
P.S. A few stats worth knowing:
⚡️ Structured sports programs that intentionally built in social-emotional goals improved athletes' emotion regulation by standardized effect sizes up to 0.72 across 7 peer-reviewed studies (Kanaros & Bourdaniotis, Futurity Education, 2025)
⚡️ A study of 295 Swiss elite teen athletes found coach-athlete relationship quality directly predicted burnout months later (Gerber et al., Sports Psychiatry, 2024)
⚡️ Among youth athletes who quit, "I'm not good enough" and "bad coaching" were the top two reasons cited, with former players reporting far more parental pressure than current players (Aspen Institute Project Play, 2026)
The Raising Elite Competitors podcast and YouTube channel is hosted by The Elite Competitor and is dedicated to helping sports moms strengthen their daughter's mental game and confidence in order to help her perform her best when it matters most.
#mentalgame #sportsmom #strongwilledchild #coachbre #raisingathletes

Join our FREE live training for sports parents: The Do's and Don'ts of Strengthening Your Athlete's Mental Game! -> REGISTER HERE

Athlete Tip: 3 Mental Training Tips Every Athlete Needs Before Tryouts Jul 14, 2026

Show notes

Comparison at tryouts is costing her more than she realizes. What's Your Competitor Style Quiz → https://athlete.fyi/yt-quiz
📌 Resources & Tools:
🎓 Strengthen Your Athlete's Mental Game - Free Training for Parents → https://trainhergame.com/mom
📬 Join our weekly TIPS newsletter → https://sportsmom.fyi/yt-tips
💬 Use this Conversation Guide w/ Scripts to talk to your athlete about mental training → https://sportsmom.fyi/convo-guide
🎙 Listen to the Podcast: Raising Elite Competitors
FREE for Athletes:🔹 Share with your athlete: What's Your Competitor Style Quiz → https://athlete.fyi/yt-quiz
🎥 YouTube Playlist for Athletes → https://www.youtube.com/@AthleteMentalEdge
OUR SIGNATURE PROGRAMS:
👉 Join The Elite Mental Game for girl athletes → https://trainhergame.com/yt-emg
Connect with us!
IG: ➡︎ https://www.instagram.com/elitecompetitorcoach
Tik Tok: ➡︎ https://www.tiktok.com/@raisingelitecompetitors
YouTube: ➡︎ SUBSCRIBE 🙌🏼 and hang out in our community here with us!
⏰ Key Timestamps:
00:00 Intro: My Best & Worst Tryouts
00:49 Why Tryouts Are a Mental Game
02:00 How Nerves Derail Your Performance
03:24 Tip #1: Reframe What Tryouts Are
05:49 Tip #2: Use Visualization
08:44 Tip #3: Focus On Your Strengths
11:11 Recap of the Three Tips
11:53 Closing & Call to Action
👋🏼 I'm Coach Bre — a mental performance coach for girl athletes, Co-Founder of The Elite Competitor, and a former head volleyball coach and 4-time state champion.
This episode features Coach Saylor, one of our mental performance coaches inside The Elite Mental Game, teaching athletes three mental training tips for tryouts.
In this video, Coach Saylor breaks down why comparison is one of the biggest confidence killers at tryouts, and gives your athlete three specific mental training tips to walk in ready instead. This one's built to be shared directly with her. If tryouts are coming up for your daughter, this gives her something real to lean on beyond just physical prep.
What You'll Learn:
✅ Why tryouts should be reframed as a showcase, not a test
✅ A visualization technique that uses a real past best moment, not an imagined perfect one
✅ How to name three personal strengths as anchors against the comparison spiral
✅ Why comparison rarely works in her favor, and what to focus on instead
✅ Where to find her free Competitor Style Quiz for a mental edge going into tryouts
💬 What's one strength you bring to your sport that you might not give yourself credit for?
P.S. A few stats worth knowing:
⚡️Reframing pre-performance anxiety as excitement improves confidence and performance (Brooks, Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 2014)
⚡️A 2025 study of 500 athletes found imagery ability is directly linked to athletic achievement level (Malinauskas et al., Frontiers in Psychology, 2025)
⚡️A meta-analysis of 32 studies found self-talk interventions produce a real, measurable improvement in sport performance (Hatzigeorgiadis et al., Perspectives on Psychological Science, 2011)
The Raising Elite Competitors podcast and YouTube channel is hosted by The Elite Competitor and is dedicated to helping sports moms strengthen their daughter's mental game and confidence in order to help her perform her best when it matters most.
#tryoutprep #sportsmom #mentalperformance #girlssports #elitementalgame

Join our FREE live training for sports parents: The Do's and Don'ts of Strengthening Your Athlete's Mental Game! -> REGISTER HERE

She's Not Delicate. She's Underestimated. Jul 07, 2026

Show notes

"We're strong, and we're only delicate if you tell us that we're delicate." 🎯 → https://trainhergame.com/mom
***Resources***
🙌 What's Your Competitor Style Quiz (to send your athlete!): https://www.videoask.com/fnbmhduxy
💜 Conversation Guide w/ Scripts to Bring Up Mental Training: https://s3.amazonaws.com/kajabi-storefronts-production/file-uploads/sites/144031/downloads/66e16c-6886-4a62-b8db-c43a1ae18fbd_The_Elite_Mental_Game_Conversation_Starter.pdf%20
📺 YouTube Playlist for Athletes: https://www.youtube.com/@AthleteMentalEdge
🎓 The Elite Mental Game (our self-paced mental training program): https://elitecompetitor.com/emg
🔥 Grab our in-depth free training → https://trainhergame.com/mom
***Connect with Me***
📩 Want to connect? Email us at hello@elitecompetitor.com
🔹 Follow us on TikTok→ @raisingelitecompetitors
📲 Instagram: @elitecompetitorcoach
🔔 Subscribe for weekly mental training strategies built specifically for parents of girl athletes.
In this episode, I sat down with Sumer Dandan, a competitive cheer gym owner and child development professional with almost 30 years of experience.
She said something that's stuck with me since we recorded this. Girls in sports get treated like they're fragile, when the truth is the opposite. They're strong. They're determined. And most of them have never been given the tools to prove it to themselves.
👋🏼 I'm Coach Bre, a mental performance coach for girl athletes, Co-Founder of The Elite Competitor, and a former head volleyball coach and 4-time state champion.
What You'll Learn:
✅ Why the "delicate girl" narrative is holding athletes back
✅ The real difference between a fixed and growth mindset
✅ What actually helps her handle pressure instead of freezing under it
✅ Why some kids stay in sport for decades and become leaders, and others quit young
🎙️ My guest, Sumer, owns a nationally recognized all-star cheerleading gym, Intensity Athletics. She's watched what happens when talented athletes get stuck, and what actually helps them move forward.
🕓 Key Moments
00:00 Meet Sumer
00:51 Sumer's World Today
01:37 Shifting Coaching Culture
04:05 Sumer's Athletic Journey
05:25 What Is All-Star Cheerleading?
06:51 Growing Up Without Guidance
08:24 The Mental Game and the Parent's Role
13:35 Sumer's Own Mental Block Journey
16:12 From Athlete to Entrepreneur
21:51 Advice for Parents and Closing Thoughts
💬 Moms — comment below: What's one thing you say after a tough practice that you secretly wonder if it's helping or hurting?
P.S. A few stats worth knowing:
⚡️ 45% of teenage girls drop out of sports over body confidence concerns, twice the rate of boys the same age (Nike/Dove research via Well+Good, 2023)
⚡️ Girls have 1.3 million fewer opportunities to play high school sports than boys (Women's Sports Foundation)
⚡️ Students with a growth mindset from the lowest income bracket performed academically as well as fixed mindset students from the 80th income percentile (Dweck research via TrainingPeaks, 2024)
The Raising Elite Competitors YouTube channel is hosted by The Elite Competitor and is dedicated to helping sports moms strengthen their daughter's mental game and confidence in order to help her perform her best when it matters most.
#mentalperformance #girlathlete #sportsparenting #growthmindset #cheerparent

Join our FREE live training for sports parents: The Do's and Don'ts of Strengthening Your Athlete's Mental Game! -> REGISTER HERE

How Visualization Helps Her Prepare Before Big Games Jun 30, 2026

Show notes

Your daughter doesn't need more pep talks. She needs 60 seconds and a closed door. Here's what actually works. Grab more tools here → https://trainhergame.com/mom
If you're a coach, head to https://coachfreetraining.com to learn more about Plug & Play Elite Mental Game for teams! Also checkout out the Coach Her Game Channel for more tips.
There's a simple mental skill that takes less than a minute and actually changes how your daughter performs under pressure. It's backed by real science, not just good intentions.
What You'll Learn:
✅ Why mental rehearsal works (and the brain science behind it)
✅ Three specific moments to use this tool with your daughter
✅ A simple way to help her release pre-game anxiety
👋🏼 I'm Coach Bre — a mental performance coach for girl athletes, Co-Founder of The Elite Competitor, and a former head volleyball coach and 4-time state champion.
🕓 Key Moments:
00:00 Introduction
00:59 Why Visualization Works (The Science)
01:56 Way #1: Visualization Before Practice
02:20 The 3-2-1 Brave Mindset Routine
04:45 Way #2: Visualization Before Games
05:42 Way #3: Situational Visualization
07:37 Wrap-Up & Resources
⬇️ New here? Start with the free training for sports moms: https://trainhergame.com/mom
💛 Already inside The Elite Mental Game? Head to members.elitecompetitor.com for your next steps.
📩 Want to connect? Email us at hello@elitecompetitor.com
📌 Resources & Tools
🙌 What's Your Competitor Style Quiz (to send your athlete!): https://www.videoask.com/fnbmhduxy
💜 Conversation Guide w/ Scripts to Bring Up Mental Training: https://s3.amazonaws.com/kajabi-storefronts-production/file-uploads/sites/144031/downloads/66e16c-6886-4a62-b8db-c43a1ae18fbd_The_Elite_Mental_Game_Conversation_Starter.pdf%20
📺 YouTube Playlist for Athletes: https://www.youtube.com/@AthleteMentalEdge
🎓 The Elite Mental Game (our self-paced mental training program): https://elitecompetitor.com/emg
🔔Subscribe for more mental training tips for girl athletes ⬇️ Raising Elite Competitors YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RaisingEliteCompetitors
P.S. A few things worth knowing:
⚡️Mental rehearsal alone can increase muscle strength by up to 35% (Cleveland Clinic)
⚡️ Motor imagery activates overlapping brain regions with actual physical movement (Neuropsychologia)
⚡️Athletes who regularly use visualization report higher self-confidence and lower competition anxiety (Journal of Applied Sport Psychology)
The Raising Elite Competitors channel is hosted by The Elite Competitor and is dedicated to helping sports moms strengthen their daughter's mental game and confidence in order to help her perform her best when it matters most.
#mentalperformance #girlathlete #sportsparenting #visualization #athleteconfidence

Join our FREE live training for sports parents: The Do's and Don'ts of Strengthening Your Athlete's Mental Game! -> REGISTER HERE

She Scored 19 Points After Learning to Let Go of Mistakes (Kinley's Story) Jun 25, 2026

Show notes

💛 One athlete. A new position. A mindset shift that led to 19 points and four threes. Get the free training for sports moms → https://trainhergame.com/mom
Kinley started EMG convinced she couldn't afford to make a mistake. Every error felt like proof she wasn't good enough.
Then something clicked.
🎙️ In this episode, Coach Saylor sits down with Kinley Sander, our May Athlete of the Month and an incoming freshman basketball player, who shares how mental training helped her stop hesitating and start trusting herself in a brand new position.
What You'll Learn:
✅ Why "I can't mess up" is the mindset that's actually holding your daughter back
✅ How the Snapback Routine works in real game moments (from an athlete who uses it)
✅ The grounding strategy that pulls athletes back to the present when they're spiraling
✅ What one mindset shift unlocked Kinley's best game ever
✅ Why going back to "just have fun" is a performance strategy, not a cop-out
🕓 Key Moments:
00:00 Welcome & Introduction
00:21 Kinley's Basketball Journey
00:54 Recognizing Kinley's Work Ethic
01:45 Champions Board Submission
02:08 Mindset Before & After EMG
03:03 Mental Tools & Strategies
04:43 Breakthrough Game Story
07:41 Goals & Advice for Athletes
Athlete of the month episodes are hosted by REC Coach Saylor, a mental performance coach for girl athletes. I empower girl athletes with tools to build confidence and manage pressure so they can compete freely and passionately. New AOTM episodes every month!
📌 Free Tools & Next Steps
🙌 What's Your Competitor Style Quiz (to send your athlete!): https://www.videoask.com/fnbmhduxy
💜 Conversation Guide w/ Scripts to Bring Up Mental Training: https://s3.amazonaws.com/kajabi-storefronts-production/file-uploads/sites/144031/downloads/66e16c-6886-4a62-b8db-c43a1ae18fbd_The_Elite_Mental_Game_Conversation_Starter.pdf%20
🎯 FREE Training for Sports Moms: https://trainhergame.com/mom
📺 YouTube Playlist for Athletes: https://www.youtube.com/@AthleteMentalEdge
🎓 The Elite Mental Game (our self-paced mental training program): https://elitecompetitor.com/emg
🔔 Subscribe for more mental training tips for girl athletes. Raising Elite Competitors YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RaisingEliteCompetitors
P.S. A few stats worth saving if you've ever wondered whether the mental game really matters that much:
👉70% of youth athletes quit organized sports by age 13, with loss of enjoyment tied to pressure and confidence challenges (Aspen Institute, Project Play)
👉Girls are significantly more likely than boys to internalize mistakes and experience decreased confidence after errors during competition (Tucker Center for Research on Girls and Women in Sport, University of Minnesota)
👉Athletes who use consistent pre-performance routines outperform those who don't in high-pressure situations (Journal of Applied Sport Psychology)
The Raising Elite Competitors YouTube channel is hosted by The Elite Competitor and is dedicated to helping sports moms strengthen their daughter's mental game and confidence in order to help her perform her best when it matters most.
#mentalperformance #girlathlete #sportsparenting #athleteofthemonth

Join our FREE live training for sports parents: The Do's and Don'ts of Strengthening Your Athlete's Mental Game! -> REGISTER HERE

How to Set Your Daughter Up for Her Best Fall Season Yet (This Summer) Jun 23, 2026

Show notes

🏆 The 3 mental skills that separate good athletes from great ones - and how to help your daughter build them this summer. Free training for moms → https://trainhergame.com/mom
Your daughter has been putting in the physical work this summer. But there's one thing most athletes skip completely - and it's exactly what shows up (or doesn't) when tryouts get intense.
👋🏼 I'm Coach Bre - a mental performance coach for girl athletes, Co-Founder of The Elite Competitor, and a former head volleyball coach and 4-time state champion.
In this episode, I'm breaking down what the best girl athletes are doing differently right now, and what you can do as her mom to make sure she walks into her next season ready - not just physically, but mentally.
✅ Why summer is the best time to train the mental game (before the pressure is real)
✅ The Snapback Routine - a 2-second failure recovery system that changed everything for my state championship team
✅ How to build a pre-performance routine that helps her stay consistent under pressure
✅ Why her belief about herself sets the ceiling - and how to help her raise it
✅ Three specific things YOU can do this summer that will change how she shows up in the fall
🕓 Key Moments:
00:00 The Problem: Mental Spiraling Before Tryouts
04:05 Why Mental Training Is Missing from Summer Plans
04:14 Skill #1: Training the Mental Game
06:22 The Snapback Routine in Action: State Championship Story
11:31 Skill #2: Building a Pre-Performance Routine
13:19 Skill #3: Building Your Identity Before the Season
16:12 What the Best Sports Parents Do This Summer
20:10 Wrap-Up and Next Steps
⬇️ New here? Start with the free training for sports moms: https://trainhergame.com/mom
💛 Already inside The Elite Mental Game? Head to members.elitecompetitor.com for your next steps.
📩 Want to connect? Email us at hello@elitecompetitor.com
📌 Resources & Tools
🙌 What's Your Competitor Style Quiz (to send your athlete!): https://www.videoask.com/fnbmhduxy
💜 Conversation Guide w/ Scripts to Bring Up Mental Training: https://s3.amazonaws.com/kajabi-storefronts-production/file-uploads/sites/144031/downloads/66e16c-6886-4a62-b8db-c43a1ae18fbd_The_Elite_Mental_Game_Conversation_Starter.pdf%20
📺 YouTube Playlist for Athletes: https://www.youtube.com/@AthleteMentalEdge
🎓 The Elite Mental Game (our self-paced mental training program): https://elitecompetitor.com/emg
🔔Subscribe for more mental training tips for girl athletes ⬇️ Raising Elite Competitors YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RaisingEliteCompetitors
P.S. A few things worth knowing:
⚡️Athletes who use mental skills training show measurably better performance consistency under pressure, particularly in high-stakes competition moments. (Association for Applied Sport Psychology)
⚡️ Visualization activates the same neural pathways as physical practice, giving athletes measurable performance gains without additional physical training load. (University of Chicago, Blaslotto research on visualization and performance)
⚡️Only 9% of high school athletes go on to play college sports. The mental game is often what determines who breaks through. (NCAA Research)
The Raising Elite Competitors channel is hosted by The Elite Competitor and is dedicated to helping sports moms strengthen their daughter's mental game and confidence in order to help her perform her best when it matters most.
#girlssports #mentalperformance #sportsparenting #girlathlete #youthsports

Join our FREE live training for sports parents: The Do's and Don'ts of Strengthening Your Athlete's Mental Game! -> REGISTER HERE

14-Year-Old Lacrosse Athlete Took Over My Podcast and I'm So Glad She Did! Jun 16, 2026

Show notes

🎙️ I've been the one asking questions for years. This week, Emily took over the mic and flipped the script. Check out this interview where the athlete runs the show!
I said yes to a 14-year-old lacrosse player who wanted to interview me for a school project about mental training. And honestly? She asked things I wasn't fully prepared for.
👋🏼 I'm Coach Bre - a mental performance coach for girl athletes, Co-Founder of The Elite Competitor, and a former head volleyball coach and 4-time state champion.
Emily is one of our Elite Mental Game athletes. She came in with real questions, real experiences, and zero filter. What came out of this conversation is one of the most genuine episodes I've ever recorded.
❓She asked me why I started all of this (I told her the story I don't always tell)
❓ She shared what it actually felt like to use the Snapback Routine at her championships
❓ We talked about what parents do that quietly makes things harder
❓ She told me what makes a coach feel safe - straight from an athlete's mouth
I asked her questions back, and her answers are worth every second
💛 If you want to know what your daughter is actually thinking, this one is for you.
Emily was one of the most prepared guests I've had on the podcast and delivered a fantastic episode! Great job, Emily!!
What You'll Learn:
✅ What an athlete genuinely wants from her parents on the sideline and after games
✅ The real reason Coach Bre almost never played college volleyball (and why she's glad it happened)
✅ What athletes think when they see a coach who only focuses on physical performance
✅ How one 14-year-old describes using mental training tools in real competition
✅ What creates safety for athletes to actually open up to coaches and parents
🕓 Key Moments:
00:00 Meet Emily: A 14-Year-Old Athlete Takes Over
01:33 Bretagne's Athletic Journey & Struggles with Perfectionism
03:23 The Walk-On Comeback & Discovering Mental Training
05:10 Building The Elite Mental Game Program
06:47 The Unique Pressures Girl Athletes Face
10:12 Why Athletes Don't Ask for Help (And How to Change That)
13:41 What Parents & Coaches Can Do Differently
21:54 What Happens When Teams Don't Train Mentally
31:54 Practical Tools: Joy, Process, and Resetting Your Mindset
39:32 Emily's Experience in the Elite Mental Game
⬇️ New here? Start with the free training for sports moms: https://trainhergame.com/mom
💛 Already inside The Elite Mental Game? Head to members.elitecompetitor.com for your next steps.
📩 Want to connect? Email us at hello@elitecompetitor.com
📌 Resources & Tools
🙌 What's Your Competitor Style Quiz (to send your athlete!): https://www.videoask.com/fnbmhduxy
💜 Conversation Guide w/ Scripts to Bring Up Mental Training: https://s3.amazonaws.com/kajabi-storefronts-production/file-uploads/sites/144031/downloads/66e16c-6886-4a62-b8db-c43a1ae18fbd_The_Elite_Mental_Game_Conversation_Starter.pdf%20
📺 YouTube Playlist for Athletes: https://www.youtube.com/@AthleteMentalEdge
🎓 The Elite Mental Game (our self-paced mental training program): https://elitecompetitor.com/emg
🔔Subscribe for more mental training tips for girl athletes ⬇️ Raising Elite Competitors YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RaisingEliteCompetitors
P.S. A few things worth knowing:
⚡️Athletes who use mental skills training show measurably better performance consistency under pressure, particularly in high-stakes competition moments. (Association for Applied Sport Psychology)
⚡️ Visualization activates the same neural pathways as physical practice, giving athletes measurable performance gains without additional physical training load. (University of Chicago, Blaslotto research on visualization and performance)
⚡️Only 9% of high school athletes go on to play college sports. The mental game is often what determines who breaks through. (NCAA Research)
The Raising Elite Competitors channel is hosted by The Elite Competitor and is dedicated to helping sports moms strengthen their daughter's mental game and confidence in order to help her perform her best when it matters most.
#girlssports #mentalperformance #sportsparenting #girlathlete #youthsports

Join our FREE live training for sports parents: The Do's and Don'ts of Strengthening Your Athlete's Mental Game! -> REGISTER HERE

Why Physical Training Isn't Enough This Summer (What Great Athletes Do Differently) Jun 09, 2026

Show notes

Summer is when athletes either separate themselves or fall behind. Here's what the best ones do differently. Free training for sports moms → https://trainhergame.com/mom
Most athletes treat summer like an extended break and then walk into tryouts wondering why nothing changed.
In this episode, I'm breaking down exactly what separates average athletes from great ones this summer, and it's not just showing up to open gyms.
👋🏼 I'm Coach Bre, a a Certified Mental Performance Coach, a 14-year head volleyball coach, and a 4x state championship winner. I'm also the founder of The Elite Competitor, a mental performance program built exclusively for girl athletes ages 11-18 and their moms.
You'll learn:
✅ Why motivation is the worst training partner you can have
✅ How to build a real physical training plan that you'll actually stick to
✅ What mental training is and why it matters more than most athletes realize
✅ How visualization gives you mental reps without extra wear on your body
✅ Why the athlete you were last season is what shows up under pressure - and how to change that
⬇️ I've been a head volleyball coach for 14 years and we've won four consecutive state championships. The athletes who separate themselves every single summer do these things.
If your daughter has goals to play at the next level or compete for a championship, this one is for her.
Don't miss our SUMMER STRONG MENTAL GAME BOOTCAMP
Six weeks of live mental training for athletes. Starts June 24th.Register here → elitecompetitor.com/summer-strong-bootcamp/
🕓 Key Moments:
00:00 Introduction: Summer Separates Athletes
00:58 Have a Plan
01:51 Physical Training: Show Up & Work Hard
02:50 Creating Your Own Training Schedule
04:26 Why Mental Training Matters
06:35 Mental Training Tools: Snapback & Visualization
08:19 Summer Strong Mental Game Boot Camp
09:30 Identity: Who You Are Under Pressure
⬇️ New here? Start with the free training for sports moms: https://trainhergame.com/mom
💛 Already inside The Elite Mental Game? Head to members.elitecompetitor.com for your next steps.
📩 Want to connect? Email us at hello@elitecompetitor.com
📌 Resources & Tools🙌
What's Your Competitor Style Quiz (to send your athlete!): https://www.videoask.com/fnbmhduxy
💜 Conversation Guide w/ Scripts to Bring Up Mental Training: https://s3.amazonaws.com/kajabi-storefronts-production/file-uploads/sites/144031/downloads/66e16c-6886-4a62-b8db-c43a1ae18fbd_The_Elite_Mental_Game_Conversation_Starter.pdf%20
📺 YouTube Playlist for Athletes: https://www.youtube.com/@AthleteMentalEdge
🎓 The Elite Mental Game (our self-paced mental training program): https://elitecompetitor.com/emg
🔔Subscribe for more mental training tips for girl athletes ⬇️ Raising Elite Competitors YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RaisingEliteCompetitors
P.S. A few things worth knowing:
⚡️Athletes who use mental skills training show measurably better performance consistency under pressure, particularly in high-stakes competition moments. (Association for Applied Sport Psychology)
⚡️ Visualization activates the same neural pathways as physical practice, giving athletes measurable performance gains without additional physical training load. (University of Chicago, Blaslotto research on visualization and performance)
⚡️Only 9% of high school athletes go on to play college sports. The mental game is often what determines who breaks through. (NCAA Research)
The Raising Elite Competitors channel is hosted by The Elite Competitor and is dedicated to helping sports moms strengthen their daughter's mental game and confidence in order to help her perform her best when it matters most.
#girlssports #mentalperformance #sportsparenting #girlathlete #youthsports

Join our FREE live training for sports parents: The Do's and Don'ts of Strengthening Your Athlete's Mental Game! -> REGISTER HERE

What It Actually Takes to Play D1 Sports (A College Athlete Tells All) Jun 02, 2026

Show notes

The hardest part of playing D1 volleyball wasn't the early workouts, the travel, or the competition. It was the mental side...and nobody warned her. Grab our free training for sports moms: https://trainhergame.com/mom
Sydney Dreves went from four-time state champion in high school to a starting outside hitter at Boise State. She's sharing what actually separated athletes at the next level - and it wasn't physical skills.
👋🏼 I'm Coach Bre, a a Certified Mental Performance Coach, a 14-year head volleyball coach, and a 4x state championship winner. I'm also the founder of The Elite Competitor, a mental performance program built exclusively for girl athletes ages 11-18 and their moms.
You'll learn:
✅ Why comparison is the fastest way to lose your edge at any level
✅ What Sydney wishes she'd been taught before her freshman year
✅ How "freely playing" disappeared the moment she hit college, and what brought it back
✅ The mindset shift that helped her stop spiraling after bad practices
✅ What college coaches actually notice when they're recruiting
Your daughter doesn't have to figure this out alone. The mental skills Sydney used are inside our program - built specifically for girl athletes and their moms.
🕓 Key Moments:
00:00 Introduction
02:52 About the Host: Bre's Story
07:10 The Mental Game: Why It Matters
09:14 Meet Sydney Dreves
10:40 Sydney's First Year at Boise State
12:14 What Surprised Her Most About D1
13:59 Overcoming Mental Blocks & Self-Doubt
17:16 Dealing with Teammates & Coaches
20:12 Lessons & What She'd Do Differently
24:10 Advice for Athletes & Wrap-Up
💬 Parents - comment below: What's one thing you've tried to help your daughter that didn't land the way you hoped?
⬇️ New here? Start with the free training for sports moms: https://trainhergame.com/mom
💛 Already inside The Elite Mental Game? Head to members.elitecompetitor.com for your next steps.
📩 Want to connect? Email us at hello@elitecompetitor.com
📌 Resources & Tools
🙌 What's Your Competitor Style Quiz (to send your athlete!): https://www.videoask.com/fnbmhduxy
💜 Conversation Guide w/ Scripts to Bring Up Mental Training: https://s3.amazonaws.com/kajabi-storefronts-production/file-uploads/sites/144031/downloads/66e16c-6886-4a62-b8db-c43a1ae18fbd_The_Elite_Mental_Game_Conversation_Starter.pdf%20
📺 YouTube Playlist for Athletes: https://www.youtube.com/@AthleteMentalEdge
🎓 The Elite Mental Game (our self-paced mental training program): https://elitecompetitor.com/emg
🔔Subscribe for more mental training tips for girl athletes
⬇️ Raising Elite Competitors YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RaisingEliteCompetitors
P.S. A few things worth knowing:
⚡️Nearly 1 in 4 college athletes (22.3%) are at risk for depression - and most are never taught mental skills to cope. (PMC / Peer-Reviewed Study, 2023)
⚡️ Extreme upward social comparison in athletes is directly linked to drops in motivation and increased disengagement from their sport. (Diel et al., Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 2021)
⚡️A 2025 study found coaches universally agree mental skill development is essential - but most report they don't know how to teach it. The researchers called it: "Everybody wants to coach it, but fewer know how to do it." (Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 2025)
The Raising Elite Competitors channel is hosted by The Elite Competitor and is dedicated to helping sports moms strengthen their daughter's mental game and confidence in order to help her perform her best when it matters most.
#girlssports #mentalperformance #sportsparenting #girlathlete #youthsports

Join our FREE live training for sports parents: The Do's and Don'ts of Strengthening Your Athlete's Mental Game! -> REGISTER HERE

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