Mental training isn't just for struggling athletes. 💛 If she wants to separate herself from the competition, grab our free training → https://trainhergame.com/mom

Here's the truth: Everyone's putting in the physical reps. Strength, speed, skills - that's the bare minimum in sports now.

To play at her potential and bounce back from mistakes faster, she needs mental reps too. The best athletes (Simone Biles, Mia Hamm, Naomi Osaka) all prioritize mental training alongside physical training.

👋🏼 Hi, I'm 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.

In this episode, I'm breaking down the 3 biggest myths about mental training and why mental toughness isn't something you can just tell your daughter to have. She needs actual tools.

What You'll Learn:

• Why mental training is for ANY athlete ready to level up, not just those who are struggling
• What mental training actually is (and what it's not)
• How the best athletes use mental training to separate themselvesWhy physical training alone won't get her to her full potential
• How to start incorporating mental reps into her training routine

🕓 Key Moments:

0:00 Introduction
00:22 Athlete Spotlight: Samantha's Success
03:04 What is Mental Training?
03:34 Myth #1: Only for Struggling Athletes
04:43 Myth #2: Just Talking About Feelings
06:19 Myth #3: Physical Training is Enough
08:42 How to Get Started with Mental Training
10:47 Recap and Conclusion

💬 Moms - comment below: What's one mistake or challenge you wish your daughter could bounce back from faster?

📌 Free Tools & Next Steps

🎯 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:

• 70% of young athletes quit sports by age 13 (National Alliance for Youth Sports)
• 85% of elite athletes work with mental performance coaches (Association for Applied Sport Psychology)
• Athletes who practice mental skills training show a 30-50% improvement in performance under pressure (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.

#mentaltraining #girlathlete #sportsparenting #athleteconfidence #mentalperformance

Join the 4 Day What to Say Challenge happening Jan 13-16th! $19 Early Bird Pricing expires Monday January 12th! [REGISTER HERE]

💛 You know your daughter needs help with the mental side of her sport, but every time you bring it up, she shuts down. Here's how to start the conversation without triggering an eye roll.

🎯 FREE Training for Sports Moms: https://trainhergame.com

👋🏼 Hi! I'm Coach Bre, a certified mental performance coach, former collegiate athlete, and 4-time state championship volleyball coach with 14 years of experience. I'm also the co-founder of The Elite Competitor and have worked with over 5,000 girl athletes to strengthen their mental game and confidence.

In this episode, I'm sharing three strategies that actually work to introduce mental training to your daughter in ways that spark curiosity instead of resistance. These are the same approaches that have helped thousands of athletes get started with mental training (and 90% of them jump in right away).

What you'll learn:

• The biggest mistake moms make when bringing up mental training (and what to say instead)
• How to connect mental training to what SHE wants, not just what you're worried about
• Why elite athletes like Simone Biles work with mental performance coaches (and how to use this to normalize it for your daughter)
• The secret to getting her on board when she won't listen to you

Whether your daughter is 11 or 18, plays any sport, and whether she's struggling with confidence, nerves, or bouncing back from mistakes, this episode will help you bridge the gap.

🕓 Key Moments:
00:00 Introduction: The Challenge of Discussing Mental Training
01:15 Strategy 1: Connect Mental Training to Her Goals
04:14 Understanding the Three Pillars of Athletic Success
06:41 Strategy 2: Show Her the Best Athletes Do This
08:32 Strategy 3: Let Someone Else Do the Talking
10:42 Additional Resources and Tools for Parents
12:09 Finding the Right Age to Start Mental Training
13:11 Recap and Next Steps

💬 Let's stay connected: Comment below and let me know what the hardest part about supporting your daughter is right now?

📌 Free Tools & Next Steps
🎯 FREE Training for Sports Moms: https://trainhergame.com/mom
📺 Raising Elite Competitors YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RaisingEliteCompetitors
📺 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.

• 70% of young athletes quit sports by age 13, often due to pressure and loss of enjoyment (National Alliance for Youth Sports).
• Athletes who use mental skills training show a 55-80% improvement in performance outcomes compared to those who don't (Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 2018).
• Over 85% of elite athletes work with sports psychologists or mental performance coaches as part of their training regimen (American Psychological Association).

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.

#mentaltraining #girlathlete #sportsparenting #athleteconfidence #sportsmom

Are you tired of seeing your athlete get stuck in those negative spirals of self-doubt? Wishing they could play with more confidence and shake off mistakes without beating themselves up? Well, today’s episode is all about changing the inner dialogue. We’re talking about how to help your athlete develop positive self-talk so they can unlock their full potential – and maybe even start enjoying their sport more!

What’s Covered

• The difference between average and elite athletes when it comes to their mindset.
• How negative thoughts turn into a self-fulfilling prophecy.
• Simple tools to notice and shift those negative thoughts before they take hold.
• What YOU can do as a parent to create a supportive environment.

Ready to help your athlete build their mental game? Dive into the full episode for all the details – you won’t want to miss this one!

Episode Highlights:

[00:00] Helping athletes overcome negative self-talk and move past it quickly.

[02:26] Helping athletes develop positive self-talk and navigate negative thoughts. Discover the importance of positive self-talk in athletes, emphasizing its impact on their mental game and overall performance.

[07:35] Shifting thoughts to improve mental game in sports. Athletes learn to focus on enjoyment and improvement by shifting their mental attitude, leading to better performance.

[09:58] How thoughts and beliefs affect athletic performance. Learn more about the “thought wheel” and how it relates to athletes’ situations, thoughts, feelings, and actions.

[15:06] Shifting negative thoughts to productive ones in sports.

[17:12] Helping athletes shift negative thoughts and build self-trust.

[22:27] How parents’ self-talk impacts their daughters’ mental skills and physical abilities in sports. Negative self-talk from parents can contribute to a daughter’s negative self-talk and impact her athletic performance.

Next Steps:

• Join our FREE Training for Sports Moms - How to Strengthen Your Athlete Daughter's Mental Game so She Believes in Herself as Much as You Do
• Visit our podcast website for more great episodes

Thank you in advance for joining us on our mission and leaving a rating and review on Apple Podcasts.

If your daughter is training hard but still feeling exhausted, injured, or mentally drained, it’s probably not an effort problem.

👉 It’s a recovery problem.

In this episode of the Raising Elite Competitors Podcast, Coach Bre is joined by Kelsey Lensman (@xpandyourlimit), founder of Xpand Your Limits and a mobility and recovery expert and Dream Team coach, to break down what recovery really means for girl athletes and why it’s essential for confidence, performance, and long-term health.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why most athlete burnout comes from under-recovery, not overtraining
• The nervous system “gas pedal vs. brake” every sports mom should understand
• Warning signs your daughter isn’t recovering well
• How micro-recovery moments (5–10 minutes!) make a real difference
• Why talking and emotional processing count as recovery
• Simple fueling strategies to support muscle, energy, and resilience
• Why trendy biohacks matter less than mastering the basics
• How sleep impacts injury risk, performance, and confidence
• The connection between recovery habits and self-trust

Episode Highlights:

[00:00:47] Meet Kelsey Lensman, founder of Xpand Your Limits and an expert mobility and recovery coach inside Dream Team, and learn why recovery is often the missing link for girl athletes struggling with confidence, fatigue, or injury.

[00:02:39] Kelsey shares her mission to help women and girls push past limits, including the overlooked skill of slowing down in today’s go-go-go sports culture.

[00:04:11] Discover why lifting weights builds more than muscle and how physical strength directly supports confidence in female athletes.

[00:09:14] Understand the nervous system through a simple gas pedal and brake analogy and why athletes need both to perform at their best.

[00:11:40] Key warning signs your daughter is not recovering well, including injury risk, emotional burnout, poor sleep, and declining performance.

[00:16:20] What parents can do when they cannot change the schedule and how micro-recovery moments of just five to ten minutes can make a meaningful difference.

[00:26:25] The link between sleep and injury risk and why getting less than seven hours dramatically increases injury risk for teen athletes.

[00:30:55] Kelsey’s message to girl athletes about being more capable than they think and how confidence is built by keeping small promises to themselves.

[00:33:23] Where to learn more about Kelsey’s work, Expand Your Limits, and the importance of strong female mentors for athletes.

Next Steps:

• Come hang out with Kelsey Lensman on social @xpandyourlimit and learn more about working with her! For Guest Interview Email: kelsey@xpandyourlimit.com
• Our next Season of Dream Team starts in January! To learn more & apply, head here.
• Join our FREE Training for Sports Moms - How to Strengthen Your Athlete Daughter's Mental Game so She Believes in Herself as Much as You Do
• Visit our podcast website for more great episodes

Thank you in advance for joining us on our mission and leaving a rating and review on Apple Podcasts.

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Ella Wiley, our November Athlete of the Month. In this episode, we explore her journey as a swimmer, the importance of resilience, and her effective pre-competition routines.

In This Episode:
✔️ How supportive coaching has shaped Ella's mindset
✔️ The role of mental training in enhancing performance
✔️ Ella's approach to pre-race preparation
✔️ Strategies for coping with nerves and building confidence
✔️ The importance of teamwork and camaraderie in sports
✔️ Tips for athletes to bounce back from disappointing performances

Follow Ella on her journey and draw inspiration for your own athletic path!

Episode Highlights:

[00:00:00] Introduction to Ella, November Athlete of the Month, and her remarkable story.

[00:01:00] Ella shares her journey into competitive swimming and highlights her experience.

[00:02:00] The influence of supportive coaches on Ella's work ethic and resilience.

[00:03:00] Transition to her involvement in mental training and its impact on her performance.

[00:04:00] Details about her recent meet experience, achieving PRs in 6 out of 8 events.

[00:05:00] Ella reveals her pre-race routine and the strategies she uses to prepare mentally.

[00:06:00] The effectiveness of box breathing and its role in calming nerves.

[00:08:00] Importance of reflection and bouncing back from subpar performances.

[00:09:00] Ella discusses her high school season and the shift in competition dynamics.

[00:12:00] Tips for creating strong bonds with teammates and fostering a supportive environment.

[00:13:00] Ella’s advice for athletes struggling with nerves or mental challenges.

[00:15:00] Final thoughts on embracing challenges and learning from every experience.

[00:16:00] Ella shares her perspective on finding motivation and support in team sports.

Next Steps:

• Take the Athlete Competitor Style Quiz
• Join our FREE Training for Sports Moms - How to Strengthen Your Athlete Daughter's Mental Game so She Believes in Herself as Much as You Do
• Visit our podcast website for more great episodes

Thank you in advance for joining us on our mission and leaving a rating and review on Apple Podcasts.

Have you ever wondered if the words you say to your daughter could help boost her confidence as an athlete? In this episode, I share practical, go-to phrases you can use to support your daughter in her sport and life. Whether she’s preparing for a big game, processing a tough loss, or just navigating day-to-day challenges, these tips will help you build her confidence and strengthen her mental game.

What’s Covered in This Episode:

• How your words can shape your daughter’s confidence on and off the field.
• Simple phrases to boost confidence during:
  • Day-to-Day: Highlighting her positive qualities beyond her sport.
  • Pre-Game: Encouraging focus with short, impactful phrases.
  • Post-Game: Supporting her through wins and losses with the LOVE framework.
• How to validate your daughter’s feelings without reinforcing negativity.
• The importance of combining parental support with your athlete’s mental skills training.
• Practical examples like the “snapback routine” to help her bounce back from mistakes.

Ready to Learn More? Listen to this episode for actionable strategies that will make a real difference in your athlete’s confidence and resilience. Plus, find out how you can get access to a free training and a cheat sheet with 25 confidence-boosting phrases!

Episode Highlights:

[0:00] Introduction to boosting athletes' confidence through simple phrases.

[01:00] Shoutout to Renata and her success using mental training tools.

[02:00] Importance of combining verbal communication with athlete mental skills.

[03:00] Overview of the key focus: day-to-day, pre-game, and post-game confidence strategies.

[04:00] Encouraging athletes to develop self-trust and skills for overcoming setbacks.

[05:00] Highlighting positive qualities outside of sports to build confidence.

[06:00] Simple strategies like sticky notes and verbal affirmations for day-to-day encouragement.

[07:00] Using the phrase "I believe you" to validate athletes’ feelings.

[08:00] Adjusting responses to support athletes without reinforcing negative self-talk.

[09:00] Playful ways to engage teens and tweens in positive conversations.

[10:00] Pre-game strategies: keeping phrases short and focused on what's in their control.

[11:00] Examples of pre-game taglines and humor to ease nerves.

[12:00] Post-game reflections: emphasizing effort and controllable factors over outcomes.

[13:00] Supporting athletes' emotional processing after wins or losses.

[14:00] LOVE framework for post-game confidence building: Let her lead, Open the space, Validate feelings, Encourage inward.

[15:00] Examples of post-game questions to foster self-reflection and learning.

[16:00] Athletes' post-competition routines to build confidence objectively.

[17:00] Recap of day-to-day, pre-game, and post-game strategies with key takeaways.

[18:00] Reminder to download the free PDF with 25 key phrases at trainhergame.com.

Next Steps:

• Join our FREE Training for Sports Moms - How to Strengthen Your Athlete Daughter's Mental Game so She Believes in Herself as Much as You Do
• Visit our podcast website for more great episodes

Thank you in advance for joining us on our mission and leaving a rating and review on Apple Podcasts.

🚨 Attention Sports Moms! 🚨

Is your daughter beating herself up over mistakes, doubting herself before she even steps on the field, or spiraling after one bad play? It’s time to stop the mental meltdowns and start building unshakable confidence. In this episode, we’re breaking down the 3 game-changing skills every girl athlete needs to become mentally strong, resilient, and ready to dominate – both in sports and in life.

What’s Covered in This Episode:

✅ Why mindset is everything: How your daughter’s thoughts control her performance (and how to fix negative self-talk).
✅ The Thought Wheel: A simple tool to help her break the cycle of negativity and choose empowering thoughts.
✅ The Sushi Conveyor Belt Analogy: Why she doesn’t have to accept every negative thought that comes her way.
✅ The Snapback Routine: A quick, fail-proof method to recover from mistakes faster than her sport requires.
✅ Why mistakes don’t have to ruin her game: How elite athletes bounce back instantly and stay in the zone.
✅ The #1 mistake parents make: Tying their daughter’s self-worth to her performance (and how to fix it).
✅ How to praise her the right way: Focus on effort, preparation, and who she is; not just her stats or wins.
✅ Real-life success story: How one athlete used mental training to place 3rd in a tournament despite being sick and exhausted.

Ready to transform your daughter’s mental game? This episode is packed with actionable strategies to help your athlete build confidence, handle setbacks, and perform at her best. Don’t miss it; listen to the full episode now and start raising a mentally strong girl athlete today!

P.S. Want more? Check out the free training at trainhergame.com for even more tools to support your daughter’s mental game!

Episode Highlights:

[00:00:22] The episode focuses on three key skills to build a mentally strong and confident girl athlete.

[00:00:59] We dive into three skills that help athletes bounce back from mistakes, handle setbacks, and avoid spiraling after one bad play.

[00:02:16] The daughter used her “snapback routine” to stay focused and persevere, proving mental training builds resilience, not weakness.

[00:04:00] Skill #1: Mastering her thoughts. What she thinks and focuses on directly impacts her performance.

[00:08:36] Athletes can choose productive thoughts like, “This is hard, but I can do hard things,” leading to better results.

[00:12:13] Skill #2: Responding to challenges, especially mistakes, with a “Snapback Routine” to recover quickly and stay in the game.

[00:14:41] The Snapback Routine: A quick reset method involving a breath, a reset word, and a grounding signal (e.g., snapping fingers).

[00:16:15] Skill #3: Separate who she is from what she does – praise her effort and character, not just her performance.

[00:18:25] Emphasize your daughter’s positive qualities outside of sports (e.g., kindness, humor) to build her identity beyond athletics.

[00:19:58] Closing. Encouraging moms to support their daughters’ mental game for long-term success.

Next Steps:

• Join our FREE Training for Sports Moms - How to Strengthen Your Athlete Daughter's Mental Game so She Believes in Herself as Much as You Do
• Visit our podcast website for more great episodes

Thank you in advance for joining us on our mission and leaving a rating and review on Apple Podcasts.

💔 You know the moment: a few mistakes, slumped shoulders, glazed eyes, and she whispers, “I just can’t today.”

🧠 Her brain isn’t sabotaging her. It’s protecting her. Negative self-talk triggers the Reticular Activating System (RAS), making her believe the mistakes are true.

⚡ The Snapback Routine – quick mid-game reset:

1. Deep breath 🌬️
2. Reset word 🔁 (Focus, Go, Play)
3. Physical cue ✋ (tap leg, snap fingers, high-five)

😊 Confidence doesn’t need fake positivity. Neutral self-talk like “Next play” or “See the ball” keeps her grounded.

🤝 Supporting a teammate also helps—eye contact 👀, high-fives 🙌, or quick encouragement 💬 shift her brain out of panic.

❤️ As a Mom: You can’t fix every spiral, but you can equip her with tools to reset, bounce back, and stay confident under pressure.

🔍 Next Step: Try our free Athlete Confidence Quiz ✨ elitecompetitor.com/athlete to discover her competitor style, where she spirals, and tools to build mental strength.

🎧 For weekly tips, listen to the Raising Elite Competitors Podcast and explore The Elite Mental Game Program 💪.

Episode Highlights:

[00:00:00] Coach Bre shares a real-time moment from a recent volleyball tournament — the exact second a talented athlete spiraled after saying the four words that derailed her entire game.

[00:00:25] See how one negative statement (“I just can’t play today”) triggered hesitation, fear, and a full-game confidence collapse — and why our daughters’ words matter more than they realize.

[00:01:20] Learn what the brain’s Reticular Activating System (RAS) does when an athlete says “I can’t”… and how it works against her performance completely unintentionally.

[00:01:59] Discover a better mid-game response: why mistakes are normal — and how athletes can train themselves to rebound without spiraling.

[00:02:20] Meet the Snapback Routine: a simple, powerful pattern interrupt athletes inside The Elite Mental Game use to stop the mental freefall and shift back into confidence.

[00:02:49] Get examples of real reset words athletes choose (“present,” “focus,” “go,” “play,” “free”) and how pairing it with breath + a physical cue instantly centers them.

[00:03:40] Tips for staying present without pretending everything is perfect — and why the next play is always the most important one.

[00:04:23] See how physical touch (high fives, eye contact) and focusing on teammates help athletes snap out of overthinking and return to the present.

[00:04:55] Coach Bre’s core message: delete “I can’t” from your daughter’s vocabulary — it’s not that she can’t, it’s that her brain is trying to protect her.

[00:05:20] Why mindset is your daughter’s competitive advantage — and how a strong mental game can beat equal physical talent every time.

[00:05:40] Next steps for athletes who want to learn their personal competitor style and dive deeper into mental training tools.

Next Steps:

• For athletes who want to learn more about how to strengthen their mental game
• Join our FREE Training for Sports Moms - How to Strengthen Your Athlete Daughter's Mental Game so She Believes in Herself as Much as You Do
• Visit our podcast website for more great episodes

Thank you in advance for joining us on our mission and leaving a rating and review on Apple Podcasts.