Youth baseball doesn’t just need better swings and cleaner footwork—it needs stronger minds.

In this episode of Unleashing the Baseball Mindset, Dr. Kyle Stull and Coach Dylan sit down with Cameron “Coach Cam” Monger, former professional baseball player (10 years) and certified mental coach, to break down what most teams miss: how to train mental performance the same way we train mechanics.

Coach Cam shares what he learned during his pro career—especially the realization that the mental side was the “1% edge” that separates talent from consistent performance—and how he now builds mentally tougher athletes through his youth program at Cover All Bases.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How to actually implement mental performance in youth practice (not just talk about it)
• Why “Relax and breathe” doesn’t work unless you teach breathing properly
• A simple pre-practice routine: eyes closed + 2 minutes of breathing + intention setting
• Why coaches must be consistent in messaging (practice, pregame, postgame, and in-game)
• The performance equation Coach Cam uses with players: P = A – I
  • Performance = Ability – Interferences
  • Ability rises over time, but interferences spike up/down—this is where mindset training matters
• How to handle slumps, frustration, and “crash outs” without tying identity to results
• A practical coaching rule: Praise in public, correct in private—and why tone matters with kids
• The impact of technology and measurables (exit velo, radar culture) on development and confidence
• The #1 mental skill Coach Cam would teach youth players: emotional awareness/intelligence
• “Active mindfulness” ideas kids will actually do:
  • Count steps from class to class
  • Practice mindful eating (texture, flavor, attention control)
  • Try mindful showers (sensory focus + awareness of wandering thoughts)
• Why confidence isn’t a personality trait—it’s a trainable skill built through preparation and controllables

Key coaching takeaway:

You don’t “wait” for mental skills until high school. You install them early, accept imperfect execution, and stack reps—just like bunting, throwing mechanics, and fielding work.

If you coach, parent, or play, this conversation will give you a practical, repeatable framework to build athletes who compete with composure—especially when the game gets tight.

Subscribe for more episodes on mindset, performance psychology, and coaching tools that translate directly to the field.

Chapters (optional — add timestamps if you want)

00:00 Intro + Coach Cam background
06:07 Practice integration: breathing + intentions
10:19 Confidence as a skill + consistency matters
16:09 Routines, approaches, and “reset” strategies
19:39 P = A – I (Ability vs Interferences)
25:40 Coaching language that protects confidence
29:31 Technology, measurables, and development traps
34:39 Identity vs results: anchors that hold up under pressure
50:13 Teaching emotional awareness + “active mindfulness” drills