Unstoppable Athlete - Mental Resilience for Teen Athletes

“I don’t have time.” But is time really the problem—or is learning how to manage it part of growing up? In this episode, Sara and Michelle tackle accountability, time management and the temptation we have as parents to make life easier for our kids. From balancing academics, jobs and competitive sport to managing phones, friendships and other distractions, they explore how young athletes can learn to prioritize what matters, use their time effectively and follow through on the commitments they’ve made. They also discuss the difference between supporting our kids and rescuing them, why honest feedback matters, and how effort needs to align with the goals an athlete says they want. The goal isn’t to demand perfection or push every athlete toward the highest level—it’s to help young people move from “I can’t” toward “How can I?” and develop the accountability, self-awareness and problem-solving skills they’ll need far beyond sport. 

Top 3 Takeaways

1. Accountability
2. Effort vs impact - life skills of prioritisation, time allocation and decision making
3. What’s fair? Effort matters but so does ability

What should you say on the ride home after your athlete barely played, made a mistake, or had a disappointing game? Maybe nothing. In this episode, Sara and Michelle talk about the complicated role parents play in youth sport—and how quickly our own opinions about coaches, playing time and what’s “fair” can shape an athlete’s experience. They explore why fair doesn’t always mean equal, why playing time is influenced by far more than parents see from the stands, and how sitting on the bench can sometimes create exactly the motivation an athlete needs to grow. Most importantly, they discuss how parents can hold space for disappointment without jumping into the story, criticizing the coach or trying to fix it. Instead, let your athlete lead, get curious, and help them shift from “this isn’t fair” to “what can I do next?” Because sometimes the most powerful thing we can give our athletes is the opportunity to figure out for themselves who they want to become. 

Top 3 Takeaways

1. Let your athlete lead
2. Fair is NOT the same as equal
3. Hold space for your athlete to have feelings then guide to a place of affirmation of what they do have control over

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What if making more mistakes is actually the fastest way to become a better athlete? Fresh off a week of volleyball camp, Sarah and Michelle reflect on what they saw in the gym—from young athletes learning new skills and navigating frustration to older players stepping into leadership roles. They explore why adaptability, coachability, intentional practice, and the ability to recover quickly from mistakes matter just as much as technical skill. They also challenge parents to resist fixing every uncomfortable experience and instead help their athletes problem-solve, take risks, accept feedback, and keep showing up when something feels hard. Because the goal isn’t to raise athletes who never struggle—it’s to raise young people who know what to do when they do. 

Top 3 Takeaways

1. Do hard things!
2. Those who recover from mistakes quickest will experience more success
3. Being focused on you is normal and your feelings are real - the lesson is to help your athlete redirect those feelings into things they can control. 

Tryouts aren’t just about how well you play—they’re about how you show up. In this quick episode, Sara and Michelle break down what athletes can do in the weeks leading up to tryouts to arrive physically and mentally prepared. From building volleyball-specific fitness, improving recovery, addressing lingering injuries, and getting sleep, nutrition, and hydration back on track, to setting goals and preparing for nerves, they share the things coaches actually notice. Most importantly, they remind athletes that coaches aren’t looking for perfection—they’re watching how you respond to mistakes, interact with teammates, take responsibility, and bring consistent effort. When tryouts arrive, focus on what you can control: your attitude, your effort, and your serve. 

Top 3 Takeaways

1. Get your body ready - sleep, nutrition, movement
2. Attitude and Effort - the things you can control 
3. Self talk - I’m here to make this team

When your athlete is frustrated about playing time, confidence, or a coach’s decisions, it’s tempting to step in and fix the problem—but that may not be what they need. In this episode, Sara and Michelle tackle five things parents should think twice about saying to coaches and explore a more productive approach to navigating the parent–coach–athlete relationship. From taking an honest look at attitude and effort to avoiding sideline criticism, encouraging athletes to advocate for themselves, and focusing on solutions instead of blame, they discuss how parents can turn difficult sports moments into opportunities for resilience, accountability, independence, and character. Because sometimes the most powerful thing a parent can do isn’t fix the situation—it’s show up, support their athlete, and help them learn how to handle it. 

Top 3 Takeaways

1. Is your athlete sharing an accurate reflection of their attitude and effort with you? And with themselves?
2. Be a great example! And cautious about how you talk about the coach, team, teachers, etc. around your child.
3. Solution focused. Not excuses, not blame. Bring to your coach your concerns in a way that seeks a solution to help meet their athlete and use the challenge as an opportunity to teach some life skills. 

What happens when the person driving you to practice is also the one running it? In this special roundtable discussion, Michelle sits down with three athletes—Callie, Emmy, and Jena—to explore the unique experience of being coached by their mothers. The athletes share honest insights about receiving feedback from a parent, navigating the blurred lines between coach and family, dealing with teammates’ perceptions, and learning to separate volleyball conversations from everyday life. While they acknowledge the challenges of heightened expectations and constant proximity, they also reveal the deep gratitude they feel for the time, commitment, and opportunities their moms have provided. Ultimately, the conversation highlights how parent-coach relationships, when built on communication, patience, and mutual respect, can strengthen both athletic development and family bonds.

Top 3 Takeaways

1. The hardest part isn't the coaching—it's separating "Mom" from "Coach."
2. Parent-coaches often push their own children the hardest.
3. Communication and boundaries make all the difference.

"If you wouldn't say it to another player, don't say it to your kid." — a powerful lesson that emerged from the discussion and a reminder for parent-coaches striving to balance accountability with empathy.

Fresh off a weekend of graduations, Sara and Michelle reflect on the relationships, life lessons, and lasting impact that sports can have on young athletes. What begins as an emotional conversation about watching their athletes step into adulthood evolves into a powerful discussion about what truly makes a great coach. From caring about athletes beyond their performance and teaching accountability, to developing every player—not just the stars—and helping young people build confidence, resilience, and character, this episode explores why the best coaches shape lives far beyond the court. Whether you're a coach, parent, or athlete, this conversation is a reminder that the scoreboard fades, but the lessons, relationships, and personal growth remain. 

Top 3 Takeaways

1. Not about the volleyball - relationships, teaching life skills through sport
2. Accountability
3. Matching commitment - is your athlete meeting the opportunities the coach is providing

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

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

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