Life Lessons from Coaching: Parenting, Pressure & Growth 

In this episode of Car Ride Conversations, host Valerie Alston chats with her dad and former coach about the invaluable lessons learned from coaching over 100 games a year. They discuss how these experiences translate into parenting techniques, the ineffectiveness of yelling, and the importance of values over volume in shaping a team. The episode offers honest stories, practical advice, and a three-step mindset every coach or parent should adopt. Whether you're a parent of an athlete or looking to be a better mentor, this conversation provides insights on building resilience, confidence, and stronger relationships.

00:00 Introduction to Car Ride Conversations

01:29 Lessons from Coaching: Parenting and Pressure

02:40 Real-Life Coaching Stories

04:32 The Importance of Values and Mindset

06:27 Effective Communication and Emotional Management

08:10 Three-Step Coaching Process

09:28 Engaging with the Podcast Community

10:37 Conversation Prompts for Parents and Kids

13:30 Conclusion and Call to Action

Discussion questions:

1. How do we each tend to respond to pressure during tough moments—whether it's in a game, at school, or at work? Follow-up: What helps you feel more calm or focused when things get stressful? What could we do better as a team (parent and athlete)?
2. Have you ever felt like a coach (or teacher) didn’t believe in you—or totally did? What made you feel that way? Follow-up: As a parent, what can I do to show you I believe in you—especially when things aren’t going perfectly?
3. Which matters more to you: having a big moment of success or feeling like you’re getting a little better every day? Why? Follow-up: How do we usually celebrate progress in our family or team—and is there something we should do more of?
4. When was a time one of us used humor or just laughed something off to help deal with a mistake or tough moment? Follow-up: Do you think it helped? How can we use humor or positivity more when things don’t go our way?

Thanks for joining me on Confident, Calm, and Clutch Car Ride Conversations! If you found this episode helpful, please subscribe to the podcast so you never miss a moment. Share it with other parents or coaches who could use a little extra inspiration on the go.

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For more specific tips on building mental toughness, buy my book Confident, Calm and Clutch: How to build confidence and mental toughness for young athletes using sports psychology

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