Unstoppable Athlete - Mental Resilience for Teen Athletes

#34 - Beyond “Good Job”: Building Confidence Through Honest Feedback S2.16

Many well-meaning parents and coaches believe confidence comes from praise, but confidence is actually built through effort, growth, and overcoming challenges. In this episode, Sara and Michelle explore the difference between empty praise and meaningful feedback, and why constantly telling athletes they’re amazing can sometimes undermine their development. Instead, they discuss how to recognize and reward the behaviors that truly matter—showing up consistently, embracing hard work, learning from mistakes, and responding to setbacks with resilience. By shifting the focus from outcomes and natural talent to effort and growth, parents and coaches can help athletes develop authentic confidence, stronger self-talk, and the belief that success is something they can create through their actions rather than something they either have or don't have. Inspired by lessons from successful athletes and teams, this conversation offers practical ways to foster a growth mindset that supports both performance and personal development.  Top 3 Takeaways 1. Praise attitude and effort to create growth mindset 2. Inquire with your athletes to guide them how to excel in the role they have 3. Let go of bad days and keep out of the perfectionist mindset

#33 - The Real Win: What Nationals Taught Us About Success, Sport, and Life

Fresh off what may be her final Nationals as a youth volleyball coach, Sara reflects with Michelle on the lessons that mattered most—not the wins and losses, but the growth, resilience, and relationships built along the way. They discuss how controlling attitude and energy as coaches shaped their athletes’ experience, why fun and team culture matter more than the scoreboard, and how sport continues to teach life skills that extend far beyond the court. From overcoming adversity and embracing growth to finding your people and developing a lifelong love of sport, this episode is a heartfelt reflection on what success really looks like when the season comes to an end.  Top 3 Takeaways 1. As coaches we have to control our attitude and energy while holding the vision of what the team and the players can be 2. Life skills from sport! Find your people and do hard things 3. Lifelong love of sport is the real goal. While school is 3-6yr of playing, Michelle has had over 20+ years of adult sport BONUS - its all about the relationships

#32 - When Your Teen Pulls Away: Why Coaches, Teams, and Strong Women Matter

In this episode, Sara and Michelle explore the tender and tricky stage of adolescence, when teen girls naturally begin pulling away from their mothers while forming their own identities. Through the lens of coaching 12- to 16-year-old athletes, they discuss why girls need strong adult women outside their family, how sport provides healthy role models and peer examples, and why parents need to guide—not “lawnmow”—their kids through discomfort. For parents, this conversation is a reassuring reminder that the push-pull of the teen years is normal, and that teams, coaches, captains, and trusted adults can help girls build independence, confidence, communication skills, and resilience.  Top 3 Takeaways 1. Pulling away is developmentally appropriate, as a mom we can hold space to allow this process  2. Healthy role models, like your athletes female coach, team mom and older team mates can be very valuable 3. Supporting our children through the challenging times when things may not be going their way, acknowledging the emotion but allowing them to find their own ways through

#31 - When Sitting on the Bench Is Still Playing for the Team

In this episode, Sara and Michelle unpack a provincial silver medal weekend that became a powerful lesson in team culture, resilience, and competitive maturity. Sara reflects on a group of athletes who had the team “rolling” together—competing hard, recovering quickly from mistakes, encouraging each other, and staying composed under pressure. The heart of the episode is a bench player’s reminder to her coach: “We want to win, and if us sitting on the bench is how that happens, don’t feel bad.” For parents, this is a valuable reframe around playing time, showing how athletes can understand roles, buy into a team plan, and still contribute through energy, readiness, and support.  Top 3 Takeaways 1. Three steps of reflection for provincials 1. Who do I choose to be out there? 2. What does my best look like today? 3. How do I bounce back? 2. Players want to win - even if it means sitting on the bench (in high stakes games) 3. Execution (physical) vs mental errors

#30 - Coachability: The Skill That Changes Everything S2.12

In this episode, Sara and Michelle start with a conversation about travel, discomfort, and the value of being open to unplanned experiences, using Sara’s upcoming trip to Vietnam with her daughter as a metaphor for growth. That reflection leads naturally into a bigger conversation about coachability: the willingness to stay open, adaptable, and teachable even when things feel uncomfortable. They explain that coachable athletes are the ones who listen fully, respond without defensiveness, try new techniques even when it feels awkward, and show they are eager to improve. Through tryout stories, team examples, and practical advice, they show that coachability is not something you either have or do not have—it is a skill that can be learned, and it matters not just in volleyball, but in school, work, and life. Top 3 Takeaways 1. Coachability is a skill you can learn 2. Take it personally. You are valued and your coach is willing to invest in you. 3. Confidence comes from being willing to be uncomfortable.