Raising Elite Competitors

Latest Episodes:

How Olivia Fixed Her In-Game Spirals (And Won) May 28, 2026

Show notes

A teen setter used a mental reset tool at nationals and helped her team come back from 6 down to win. Grab the same system she used → https://trainhergame.com/mom
💛 Olivia is our April athlete of the month, and her story is one every sports mom needs to hear. She started EMG after a tough high school season left her doubting herself. A few months later, she was on the biggest stage of her season using what she learned.
In this episode, Coach Saylor sits down with Olivia to break down exactly what changed and how.
🧐 What You'll Learn:
✅ What the Snapback Routine looks like under real pressure (and why Olivia used it 4 times in a single set)
✅ The one mindset her team committed to before every match at the national qualifier
✅ How Olivia leads teammates through pressure moments without calling them out
✅ What she'd tell any athlete who is hesitant about mental training
✅ The moment she realized her mental game was directly affecting her performance
👉 Olivia said it best: "Everybody talks about being mentally tough but they never tell you how to do it." That's exactly why we built this program.
The full story is in this episode. Watch it.
💬 Key Moments:
00:00 Introduction
01:08 Meet Olivia
03:34 What Brought Olivia to Mental Training
06:27 The Big South National Qualifier
09:07 The Championship Match
11:29 The Snapback Routine
14:42 Team Leadership & Mindset
16:38 Growth Since Starting EMG
19:08 Advice & Goals
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

[Encore] Beyond Pep Talks: How Parents Can Equip Young Athletes with Mental Tools May 26, 2026

Show notes

Your pep talks come from love. But two real sports parents found out they weren't enough. 👇 https://trainhergame.com/mom
Chris has six kids and still felt like she was failing her youngest. Carlos's daughter looked at him and said, "Dad, please stop. What you're doing is not working." Both of them knew their daughters had the talent. They just couldn't figure out how to actually equip them.
In this episode, you'll hear directly from both of them - unfiltered and real..
✅ What they noticed in their daughters within the first 4 days
✅ How they introduced mental tools to a resistant teen without it turning into a fight
✅ The moment they realized their own behavior was part of the equation
✅ What "no meltdowns all season" actually looks like in real life
✅ Why the 14-day guarantee was the thing that got their athletes to say yes
💛 If your daughter has the talent but something keeps blocking her from playing her best, this one's for you.
👋🏼 I'm Coach Bre, a mental performance coach for girl athletes, Co-Founder of The Elite Competitor, and a head volleyball coach and 4-time state champion.
⏱️ Key Moments
00:00 Introduction: When Joy Goes Missing
01:40 Meet Chris & Carlos: Two Parents, One Problem
01:59 Chris's Story: Being Proactive Before the Season
04:27 Carlos's Story: When Your Daughter Says "Stop"
11:12 How to Present the Program to a Resistant Teen
19:28 Changes Parents Started to Notice
23:02 From Quitting to "I Love My Sport Again"
28:44 Logistics: Fitting Mental Training Into a Busy Schedule
33:46 Live Calls, Texting Support & How It All Works
41:03 Favorite Tools & What Sets This Program Apart
45:48 Comparing to Other Options: Therapists, Psychologists & More
49:02 Final Thoughts & Getting Started
💬 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 as a sports mom:
⚡️ 70% of youth athletes quit organized sports by age 13, with "it's not fun anymore" as the top reason cited (National Alliance for Youth Sports)
⚡️ Girls are 2x more likely than boys to drop out of sports by age 14, often due to confidence issues and loss of enjoyment (Women's Sports Foundation)
⚡️Athletes who receive mental skills training show a 20-30% improvement in performance consistency compared to physical training alone (Association for 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.
#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

My Daughter Kept Crumbling Under Pressure. Then We Tried This. May 19, 2026

Show notes

Her daughter was doing everything right. But when the competition got harder, she started shrinking. 💛 Grab the system that helped her regain her confidence → https://trainhergame.com/mom
Heather watched her daughter Isla go from crumbling under pressure to winning finals matches against girls two years older than her - and she shares exactly how it happened.
This is the conversation most sports moms need to hear.
👋🏼 I'm Coach Bre, a mental performance coach for girl athletes, Co-Founder of The Elite Competitor, and a head volleyball coach and 4-time state champion.
In this episode you'll hear:
✅ What "shrinking" actually looks like from the bleachers and why it breaks a mom's heart
✅ How Isla introduced a simple pre-match routine that changed everything
✅ What Isla told her mom she actually needed from the sideline (Heather had no idea)
✅ How one conversation from the parent training opened a door that had been closed
🎙️ Heather also shares how she introduced mental training to her 11-year-old without making her feel like something was wrong with her and how Isla ended up asking to do the program again.
If you've ever watched your daughter play smaller than you know she can, this one is for you.
⏱️ Key Moments
00:00 Introduction: Meet Heather & Isla
01:49 About Isla: Young Tennis Player
02:52 What Was Happening on the Court
03:33 Finding The Elite Mental Game
04:27 How Heather Introduced the Program to Isla
06:45 Early Wins: Changes Heather Noticed
09:55 Isla's Champion Moment: Playing Free
12:22 The Power of Effort Over Outcome
12:27 Fitting Mental Training Into a Busy Schedule
15:32 The Parent Side: What Heather Learned
16:27 Open Dialogue: Isla's Feedback from the Sideline
18:20 Going Forward & Final Thoughts
Drop a comment below with the moment from this conversation that hit closest to home for you 👇
⬇️ 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 as a sports mom:
⚡️ 72% of girls drop out of sports by age 13, most citing lack of enjoyment and declining confidence (Women's Sports Foundation)
⚡️ Athletes who use mental imagery and visualization perform measurably better under pressure, with research showing up to a 45% performance improvement in high-stakes situations (Journal of Applied Sport Psychology)
⚡️ A Harvard study found that reappraising pre-performance anxiety as excitement, rather than trying to calm down, leads to significantly better performance outcomes (Alison Wood Brooks, Harvard Business School, 2014)
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.
#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

The 5-Minute Habit That Gives Your Daughter a Recruiting Advantage May 12, 2026

Show notes

Your daughter is grinding. Practices, tournaments, extra reps. And college coaches are watching. But not for what you think. 🎯 trainhergame.com/mom
College coaches and recruiters aren't just watching her play. They're watching how she reacts when things go wrong.
Does she slam her hand after a bad mistake? Does she pout when she gets pulled? Does she get flustered when a ref makes a bad call?
Those are mental skills. And most athletes have never been taught them.
In this episode, Coach Saylor breaks down the elite performance formula and why neglecting the mental game cancels out everything your daughter has already built.
You'll learn:
✅ Why physical training and film study aren't enough on their own
✅ What the multiplication model means for your daughter's real potential
✅ Exactly what college coaches look for beyond raw talent
✅ How elite athletes like Simone Biles and Megan Rapinoe trained their mindset
✅ Why just 5 minutes a day is enough to give her a serious edge
This one is for every college-bound girl athlete and every mom who wants to help her get there.
🎙 Coach Saylor is a Mental Performance Coach inside The Elite Competitor community. She works alongside Coach Bre to help girl athletes build the confidence and mental tools they need to compete freely and thrive at the next level.
🕓 Key Moments:
Drop a comment below: What's one thing you wish your daughter's mental game could benefit from👇
📩 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
🎯 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 channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgMBGRYc4tFmuJ3hKO4r4pQ

P.S. A few stats worth knowing:
⚡️ 70% of youth athletes quit sports by age 13 - and poor mental experience is one of the leading drivers (Aspen Institute, Project Play, 2019)
⚡️ College coaches rank coachability, composure, and attitude among their top 3 recruiting criteria, beyond raw athletic ability (NCSA College Recruiting, 2022)
⚡️ Just 5-10 minutes of intentional daily mindset practice measurably improves performance outcomes in competitive athletes (American Psychological Association, Sport Psychology Division)
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

The Real Reason Your Daughter Isn't Getting Recruited May 05, 2026

Show notes

If your daughter wants to play at the next level, this is the video she needs to see. 🎯 Grab the tools she needs → trainhergame.com/mom
Most athletes spend years training their bodies for college scouts. But the coaches doing the recruiting are quietly screening for something else entirely.
After 14 years as a head volleyball coach, I watched talented athletes get removed from recruiting lists - not because of skill gaps, but because of what happened between the plays.
👋🏼 I'm Coach Bre, a mental performance coach for girl athletes, Co-Founder of The Elite Competitor, and a head volleyball coach and 4-time state champion.
In this episode, I'm breaking down 5 things college coaches look for beyond talent:
✅ How she responds after mistakes (and what coaches are really watching)
✅ What her body language says when things aren't going her way
✅ How she treats her teammates under pressure
✅ How she interacts with her parents and coaches at events
✅ Whether she performs when the moment gets big - or plays it safe
Every single one of these is trainable. I'm also breaking down the Snapback Routine - the simple reset system athletes use to bounce back faster than their sport requires.
If she has the talent, let's make sure the rest of her game matches it.
⏱️ Key Moments:
00:00 Introduction
00:32 Why Mental Skills Matter in Recruiting
02:12 #1: Response to Adversity
03:15 The Snapback Routine
04:35 Free Training Callout
05:19 #2: Body Language
06:40 #3: How You Treat Teammates
08:28 #4: How You Treat Your Parents
09:43 #5: Performing Under Pressure
12:29 Recap & Final Thoughts
Drop a comment below and let me know which of the 5 hits home👇
📩 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
🎯 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 knowing:
⚡️ Mental skills are among the top factors coaches cite in recruiting decisions, alongside physical skills and coachability. (Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology)
⚡️ 85% of college coaches say they would not recruit an athlete who displayed poor body language or sportsmanship, regardless of talent level. (NFHS)
⚡️ Athletes who use mental skills training show a 43% improvement in competitive performance consistency under pressure. (Association for 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.
#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

From "Stuck in a Box" to Elite Competitor: Elise’s Mental Game Success Story May 02, 2026

Show notes

Elise went from "stuck in a box" after every mistake to bouncing back in a championship game. Here's how she did it ➡️ https://trainhergame.com/mom
She's 11. Competitive soccer player. And in her own words, she was "stuck in a box" - trapped in her mistakes mid-game, spiraling after every error, losing herself in the what-ifs.
Then her whole family joined The Elite Mental Game together.💛
What changed? Everything.
In this episode, Coach Saylor sits down with our March Athlete of the Month to talk about what the mental game actually looks like from the inside - as an athlete, and as a family. Here's what you'll hear:
✅ How Elise used the Snapback Routine to turn around a championship game at halftime
✅ The exact moment her parents went from "are you okay?" to knowing exactly what to say
✅ What it means to go from spiraling after mistakes to trusting your skills under pressure
✅ Why her family finally felt "on the same page", and what made that shift happen
The part that gets me every time? She's 11 years old and she already knows something most adults never learn: you're in control of the game, not your mistakes.
💬 Key Moments:
00:00 Introduction & Welcome
01:43 Meet Elise – Background & Sport
03:12 Why Elise Joined the Mental Game Program
04:23 The Snapback Routine & Mental Tools
05:24 Championship Game Comeback Story
07:05 Family Support & The Mental Game
11:24 Goals, Advice & Closing
🎙️ This one is for every mom watching from the bleachers wondering what else she can do to help.
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:
➡️ 75-90% of athletic performance at the competitive level is mental - not physical (Association for Applied Sport Psychology)
➡️ Only 9% of youth athletes receive any formal mental skills training - despite the mental game being the biggest factor in performance (Mental Health America / Sport & Exercise Science research)
➡️ Girls who feel supported by their parents in sport report higher confidence and stay in the game longer (Aspen Institute Project Play, 2022)
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

The Athlete Who Had Everyone’s Trust—Except Her Own: Coach Saylor’s Story Apr 28, 2026

Show notes

70% of girls quit sports by age 13. This is the story of one who didn't and why it matters. Grab our free training for sports parents 👉 https://trainhergame.com/mom
Coach Saylor is our head athlete coach inside The Elite Mental Game. She played volleyball and track and field at the collegiate level. She's coached thousands of girl athletes.
She's also someone who cried after games in middle school, faked her confidence for years, burned out during COVID, and quietly fought depression while being everyone else's rock on the team.
In this episode, I sit down with Coach Saylor to hear the full story - the one behind the coach your daughter might already know and trust.💛
👋🏼 I'm Coach Bre, a mental performance coach for girl athletes, Co-Founder of The Elite Competitor, and a head volleyball coach and 4-time state champion.
Here's what you'll hear in this episode:
✅ Why the most reliable, levelheaded player on the team was falling apart inside
✅ What burnout actually looks and feels like from the inside (not the coaching manual version)
✅ The moment a coach said "How could you be struggling?" - and what that cost
✅ The two words Saylor's dad said before every game that changed how she played
✅ What she wishes someone had said to her when she was losing her love for the sport
✅ What she'd say directly to the mom whose daughter is burning out right now
This one is for the athletes who look fine but aren't. And for the moms watching from the bleachers, wondering what's really going on inside their daughter's head.
⏱️ Key Moments
00:01 Introducing Coach Saylor
01:49 Saylor's Athletic Background
02:35 Pressure, Perfectionism & Faking Confidence
04:52 Burnout in College
08:22 Getting Help & Being Heard
10:58 Why Saylor Became a Mental Performance Coach
15:10 Choosing to Stay & Lessons from Sport
19:42 What Athletes Are Carrying
22:24 Advice for Athletes & Sports Moms
Drop a comment below with the moment from this conversation that hit closest to home for you 👇
📩 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
🎯 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 ⬇️
P.S. A few stats worth knowing:
⚡️ Nearly 35% of elite youth athletes experience burnout symptoms - with overtraining and no recovery time as the primary drivers (Goodger et al., Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology)
⚡️ Girls drop out of sports at 6x the rate of boys by age 14, with lack of confidence and emotional burnout cited as leading causes (Women's Sports Foundation)
⚡️ When girls over-identify with sport as their primary identity, they are significantly more likely to experience depression and anxiety when performance dips (Brewer et al., 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.
#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

How to Help Your Daughter Handle Pressure (We're Coming to Cleveland May 9th) Apr 25, 2026

Show notes

We're coming to Cleveland! 🎟️ Tickets are under $100 for a parent-athlete pair. Grab yours at uscoaches.org - spots are almost gone.
Coach Bre sits down with Mary Herrick, a 40+ year tennis teaching professional and member of the RSPA (Racquet Sports Professionals Association), to talk about an upcoming live in-person event in Cleveland, Ohio on May 9th: From Pressure to Power.
🎤 Event Panelists Include:
Katie Marquardt - Two-time Winter Olympian, World Champion, US Speed Skating Hall of Fame
Cassie Sant - Division I basketball, played pro in Italy and Australia, Cleveland Cavaliers
Breanne McLaughlin - Two-time Olympian, 3,809 career saves, first woman to coach men's D1 hockey
Dobie Moser (Moderator) - Notre Dame "Play Like a Champion" co-director, US Olympic Committee
This event is built for girl athletes AND their parents. The morning is a hands-on workshop covering mental skills for managing pressure, mistake recovery, and the post-game car ride conversation that most families are getting wrong. The afternoon features a powerhouse panel of women who played at the highest levels and have real stories to share about navigating pressure, doubt, and what it actually takes to stay in the game.
✅ Why the car ride home matters more than most parents realize
✅ What girl athletes need mentally that their coaches aren't teaching
✅ How Coach Bre quit volleyball at 18 despite college offers - and what she learned
✅ What a 40-year tennis coach has observed about kids who make it vs. kids who don't
✅ Why this event goes beyond sports
🕓 Key Moments:
00:00 Workshop Promo
01:54 Meet Coach Mary Herrick
03:50 Why Kids Quit Sports
06:57 Coach Bre's Story: Quitting Under Pressure
08:56 The Event Vision
10:08 The Car Ride Home
11:53 Handling Pressure & Competition
13:07 Mental Skills & The Event Day
15:19 The Panelists
19:37 The Impact & Call to Action
🎟️ Tickets are under $100 for a parent-athlete pair. Grab yours at uscoaches.org - spots are almost gone.
📌 Resources & Tools
🎯 FREE Training for Sports Moms: https://trainhergame.com/mom
🙌 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.: Girls who participate in sports are 7% more likely to graduate college and show higher civic engagement rates (Women's Sports Foundation, Her Life Depends On It III, 2016)
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.
#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

The "Sideline Mistake" That's Killing Your Daughter's Confidence Apr 21, 2026

Show notes

💛 She looks up at you more than you think. And what she sees is shaping her confidence → https://trainhergame.com/mom
Colleen was the mom on the sidelines with her hands in the air, head down, eyes rolling every time things went wrong for her daughter Lily on the court.
She had no idea Lily was looking up at her over 100 times every single tournament weekend. And every one of those reactions was adding pressure to an athlete who was already drowning in it.
Lily was losing her love for volleyball. She dreaded practice. And nothing Colleen said at home was helping.
So Colleen made a decision to change what she was bringing to those sidelines. She learned when to speak and when to stay quiet. She asked Lily what she actually needed instead of assuming. And she started showing up differently.
Two weeks later, Lily was smiling at practice again. Her husband noticed without being told. And by the end of the season, Lily's coaches voted her team captain.
This is their story.
What You'll Learn:
✅ How your sideline reactions are affecting your daughter's performance without you realizing it
✅ Why you might be saying the right things at the wrong times
✅ The one question that completely changed how Lily communicates with her mom
✅ What it looks like when a struggling athlete starts to find herself again
🙋‍♀️ Hi, I'm Coach Bre, a certified Mental Performance Coach and former collegiate athlete with 14 years of coaching experience, including 4 state championships. I'm also the co-founder of The Elite Competitor and host of the Raising Elite Competitors podcast, where I help sports moms strengthen their daughter's mental game so they can perform their best when it matters most.
🎙️ Colleen is a sports mom from Georgia whose daughter Lily, 14, plays club and high school volleyball. She joined a live panel during The What To Say Challenge just weeks after joining The Elite Mental Game - and her honesty will stop you in your tracks.
🕓 Key Moments:
00:00 Lily's Story: Introduction
02:01 Meet Colleen and Lily
02:50 A Season Full of Obstacles
04:56 Three Setters and a First-Time Coach
06:29 Exhausting Every Option
09:27 Getting Lily Bought Into the Program
12:00 Two Weeks In: Smiling at Practice Again
16:44 The Sideline Wake-Up Call
24:22 Lily Advocates for Herself and Earns Team Captain
31:18 Key Takeaways for Sports Parents
💬 Moms - comment below: How many times do you think your daughter looks at you during a game or practice? Drop your guess below.
📌 Resources & Tools
🎯 FREE Training for Sports Moms: https://trainhergame.com/mom
🙌 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
P.S.: Athletes report watching their parents an average of once per minute during competition - and a parent's nonverbal reactions directly affect their stress levels and performance. (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.
#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

Athlete Tip: Telling Yourself "This Is Too Hard" Is Killing Your Performance Apr 14, 2026

Show notes

Athletes: Your brain finds evidence for whatever you tell it. Take the quiz to find your competitor style, then watch your personalized playlist → https://www.videoask.com/fnbmhduxy
The words you say to yourself during practice aren't just thoughts. They're instructions your brain follows - and "this is too hard" is sending your brain straight to the exit.
👋🏼 I'm Coach Bre, a Certified Mental Performance Coach and former 4x state championship volleyball coach with 14 years of experience. I help girl athletes ages 11-18 build unshakeable confidence and develop the mental skills that create a competitive advantage. At The Elite Competitor, we believe your mental game is what separates good athletes from great ones.
In this episode, I'm breaking down:
✅ Why "this is too hard" quietly tanks your performance
✅ The science behind why your brain builds a case against you
✅ The 3-word swap that keeps your brain working FOR you
✅ How athlete Laura used mental tools to win a championship
This is the mental rep most athletes skip. The ones who don't? They're the ones who get better faster.
🕓 Key Moments:
00:00 Intro & Community Shoutout
01:02 The Problem: "This Is Too Hard"
01:36 Coach Brie's Story
02:30 The Science: Reticular Activating System
04:12 The Swap: "I'm Figuring It Out"
05:45 Your Challenge & Call to Action
💬 Athletes - comment below: try this at your next practice then let me know how it goes 👇
💡 MENTAL TRAINING RESOURCES FOR ATHLETES:
🔗 Free Training: trainhergame.com
🔗 The Elite Mental Game Program: elitecompetitor.com/emg
🔗 Instagram: @raising.elite.competitors
🔗 FREE Training for Sports Moms: https://trainhergame.com/mom
📺 YouTube Playlist for Athletes: https://www.youtube.com/@AthleteMentalEdge
🙌 What's Your Competitor Style Quiz (for athletes!): https://www.videoask.com/fnbmhduxy
📩 Questions? Email us: hello@elitecompetitor.com
🔔 Subscribe for more mental training tips for girl athletes.
P.S. If you're curious about the science behind this - here's what the research shows:
⚡️ Athletes who use positive self-talk improve performance by up to 23% compared to athletes using negative self-talk (Hatzigeorgiadis et al., Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 2011)
⚡️ Athletes with a growth mindset are 34% more likely to persist through challenging tasks than those with a fixed mindset (Dweck, Stanford University)
⚡️ 80-85% of elite athletes use intentional self-talk as a performance strategy - yet most young athletes are never taught how (Association for Applied Sport Psychology)
The Raising Elite Competitors channel is hosted by The Elite Competitor and is dedicated to helping girl athletes and their sports moms strengthen the mental game so she can perform her best when it matters most.
#girlathlete #athletemindset #mentaltraining

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