Raising Elite Competitors

In this episode, we welcome Rob, the driving force behind the Shoulder Check initiative, which aims to foster mental wellness in youth sports. Rob shares insights on the importance of creating safe spaces for athletes to express their feelings and how parents can effectively support their children in managing the pressures of competition.

Key Takeaways:

• Creating Safe Spaces: Learn how parents can establish an environment where young athletes feel comfortable sharing their emotions.
• Identifying Distress: Rob discusses the signs parents should look for to identify when their child may be struggling emotionally, even if they don't outwardly express it.
• Encouraging Open Conversations: Discover practical tips for initiating conversations about feelings during everyday moments, such as car rides or family dinners.
• Essential Resources: Rob outlines crucial resources available for parents in times of crisis, emphasizing the importance of knowing when to seek professional help.
• Building Resilience: Understand how to foster emotional resilience in young athletes by allowing them to express disappointment and frustrations in a healthy way.
• Future of Shoulder Check: Rob shares exciting developments and goals for the Shoulder Check initiative, aiming to integrate its message into sports culture.

Episode Highlights:

[00:01:10] Rob joins the podcast to share his passion for fostering mental wellness in youth sports through his initiative, Shoulder Check.
[00:02:30] He discusses the importance of creating safe spaces for athletes to express their feelings and the role parents play in this process.
[00:04:50] Recognising the signs of distress: Rob emphasizes how parents can better identify when their children may be struggling emotionally.
[00:07:00] Practical strategies for encouraging open conversations during everyday moments, like car rides or casual chats.
[00:10:05] Rob highlights essential resources for parents to access in times of crisis, ensuring they know when to seek professional help.
[00:12:20] The significance of building resilience in young athletes through emotional expression and coping strategies.
[00:15:35] Rob shares exciting developments for the Shoulder Check initiative, including plans to promote its visibility in sports culture
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 you're a COACH, join us next week for the Secrets of a Championship Program Bootcamp happening March 3-6th! Register (Free) here-> https://elitecompetitor.com/bootcamp-live

Grab your exclusive Elite Mental Game discount for being a podcast listener here!

After my senior year in high school, I quit playing volleyball.

It was a shock to many of my coaches, teammates, and parents. Mostly because I was destined to play in college, somewhere.

There was pressure coming from all directions to be successful at the next level. It wasn’t a matter of if I was going to play in college, it was where.

Looking back, I can see how clearly one thing was controlling me (and how it controls many of the athletes I work with today!)

What is it? Fear of success.

You’d be surprised how many female athletes are held back by the fear of their own success.

Personally, I was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to live up to the expectation that others had of me in their minds.

And it wasn’t until I embraced and moved past this fear that I was able to finish out my career as a successful (and happy!) collegiate volleyball player.

In this episode, I dive into what this fear is, how to spot it, and mindset shifts to help athletes move through it.

What is Fear of Success?

First, we need to examine what “success” is in the eyes of many female athletes.

Success could mean:

Being good (and maybe better than teammates/opponents)

Getting recognition

Achieving new levels or playing on higher teams

Being a bigger contributor on the team (scoring the most points, making the plays, etc)

These all sound like good things, right? They are, but in many female athlete’s minds, these successes can also mean...

Being expected to live up to a new standard, and fear of failure if the expectation is not met

Jealousy from teammates

More work

More pressure to perform

It can feel overwhelming and cause athletes to shut down before they even start, stopping them in their tracks and preventing them from reaching potential.

What Does Fear of Success Look Like?

For many athletes that struggle with fear of success, it can look like:

Hesitating:

Not giving their all

Quitting/Losing Motivation

Procrastination/Avoidance of Training

Strategies to Overcome Fear of Success:

Much of overcoming this fear includes shifting athlete’s mindsets and creating new thoughts and stories around their success. Here are three ways:

1. Realize that more damage is done by avoiding success

2. Understand that being great doesn’t mean being perfect

3. Ask Yourself: What story do you want to write?

There you have it. The fear of success is very real for many female athletes. It’s one I’ve battled as an athlete and still struggle with from time to time as a business owner and entrepreneur.
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Helpful Links:

• Visit our podcast website for more on this episode
• Download the free resources we've created for you
• Join us inside our FREE Facebook Group - The Elite Competitor Society - for weekly Q&A, periodic trainings and challenges, and the support of an amazing community of moms, coaches, and the men who partner with us!

The BEST way to help us spread the word and get this information into the hands of millions of parents, coaches, and female athletes is by leaving a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Thank you in advance for joining us on our mission!

If you're a COACH, join us next week for the Secrets of a Championship Program Bootcamp happening March 3-6th! Register (Free) here-> https://elitecompetitor.com/bootcamp-live

You understand that your daughter's mental game is her biggest competitive advantage.

Whether it's to level-up, become more confident, or start playing to potential (or all 3!), you likely know that it's not just the physical skills that will get her far.

It's the mental skills that makes the difference.

It's what separates average athletes from elite athletes.

It's the difference-maker when it comes to having the skills and actually being able to execute when the stakes are high.

It's the difference between athletes that react to events vs those that respond.

It's everything! Maybe you know this, and you want your daughter to join The Elite Competitor Program with the other athletes who get it too.

But, she's not quite convinced yet.

Maybe she thinks it's like counseling and she'll have to 'talk about her feelings.'

How do you bring it up in a way that makes her feel like something isn't 'wrong' with her?

The simple strategies that we'll be talking about today will help open your daughter's eyes to the power of mental training while taking the burden off of you to get her to 'buy-in.'!

#1: Connect it to her larger goals

Ask her what her goals are.

People are much more open to feedback/information once they know we have their best interest at heart.

Connect "mental training" to her stated goals.

"You have really dedicated a lot of time to basketball. I can tell you really love it and want to go far. I'm here to help and support you in your goals. Because you've said that you want to play in college (or make the varsity team, etc), I think that the mental side of the game is something we can hone in on to allow you to reach your goals."

#2: Show her examples of other athletes using mental training

If you need a little more credibility, ask her who her favorite athletes are.

Google those athletes, find YouTube videos/Podcasts of them speaking on how they became great. Guaranteed they will talk about the mental side of the game.

#3: Have her listen to the special athlete podcast!

Leave it to me! I just recorded a podcast episode that is dropping on Sunday Jan 30th that is specifically for your daughter.

She will hear straight from me why mental training is her biggest competitive advantage.

No trying to convince - just put me on in the background and walk away! 🙂

#4: Release the burden of getting her to buy-in

You have two things that are 100% in your control:

-Shaping the environment

-Providing opportunities

If you're doing that work, then you've done your part. Keep showing up for her, doing the work yourself, and providing her the opportunities. I bet she'll come around.

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Helpful Links:

• Learn more about The Elite Competitor Program
• Visit our podcast website for more on this episode
• Download the free resources we've created for you
• Join us inside our FREE Facebook Group - The Elite Competitor Society - for weekly Q&A, periodic trainings and challenges, and the support of an amazing community of moms, coaches, and the men who partner with us!

The BEST way to help us spread the word and get this information into the hands of millions of parents, coaches, and female athletes is by leaving a rating and review on Apple Podcasts

If you're a COACH, join us next week for the Secrets of a Championship Program Bootcamp happening March 3-6th! Register (Free) here-> https://elitecompetitor.com/bootcamp-live

Ever wondered how athletes overcome challenges and achieve success? In this inspiring episode, we delve into the incredible journey of Sloane, a talented swimmer and entrepreneur. Despite facing injuries and sickness during a crucial season, she demonstrated unwavering determination and resilience.
We talk about:

• Sloane’s Journey Before the Elite Competitor Program
• Embracing the Elite Competitor Program
• Transforming Relationships with Teammates
• Impact on Parent-Child Relationship
• Beyond the Pool – Entrepreneurship and Soul Thread Jewelry
• Sloane’s Message to Other Athletes

Episode Highlights:
[04:04] Sloane’s plans for high school swimming. Trying out for the varsity team for high school.
[06:33] Soul Threads 2023
[07:56] What was going on before you joined the Elite Defender Program? The process of joining the program. Favorite techniques she learned.
[12:25] How to cope with your problems and work around them. Challenges in her sport and how she copes with them.
[14:34] How did you make time for the feeling better program? Negativity bias and how to overcome it. How to make time for feeling better.
[16:44] Daily Mindset Routine: Daily mindset routine, journaling, breathwork and visualization. Mental training and the role it played.
[18:42] Navigating Teammate Relationships: Navigating teammate relationships and relationships with teammates. Relationships with mom and parents.
[20:53] Sloane’s experience with the Elite Competitor Program. Sloan shares her thoughts on her coach. Advice for other athletes considering joining the program.
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.

Today, I have the honor to interview Alanna, Shannon, and Carly of SoccerGrlProbs!

Alanna, Shannon, and Carly are all Long Island natives and former teammates on the Fairfield University Division 1 Women’s Soccer team. They now run the brand SoccerGrlProbs with a mission to support and encourage the well-being and positive self-image of young female athletes everywhere.

They aim to inspire the idea of a strong, confident, positive female athlete who is comfortable in her own skin and strive to empower young female athletes to build a strong inner foundation and have the confidence to proudly grow into the women they will become.

Through their lifestyle brand, they deliver authentic and original content as a means to establish a sense of unity and sisterhood in the female soccer community.

In this episode, we dive into how athletes can stay mentally healthy off the field/court so that they are thriving in their sport AND their lives.

We dive into:

👉The common issues athletes face that can cause overuse, burnout, and anxiety

👉Tangible ways that athletes can manage their health off the field/court so they are actually enjoying what they do

👉How athletes can start to listen to their bodies and minds rather than ignore themselves and "push through"

This episode is a must-listen for moms of female athletes who want a glimpse of what is going on inside their athlete's mind, and tangible ways to help her be a balanced, healthy athlete on and off the court/field!
Helpful Links:

• Definitely follow SoccerGrlProbs for SO much goodness!
  • Check if they're hosting a camp near you: www.soccergrlprobscamps.com/
  • www.soccergrlprobs.com
  • @soccergrlprobs on social media
  • [email protected]
• Visit our podcast website for more on this episode
• Download the free resources we've created for you
• Join us inside our FREE Facebook Group - The Elite Competitor Society - for weekly Q&A, periodic trainings and challenges, and the support of an amazing community of moms, coaches, and the men who partner with us!

The BEST way to help us spread the word and get this information into the hands of millions of parents, coaches, and female athletes is by leaving a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Thank you in advance for joining us on our mission!

If you're a COACH, join us next week for the Secrets of a Championship Program Bootcamp happening March 3-6th! Register (Free) here-> https://elitecompetitor.com/bootcamp-live