Unstoppable Athlete - Mental Resilience for Teen Athletes

This conversation unpacks the tension between confidence and performance in youth sports, highlighting how many athletes wait for success to feel confident, when in reality confidence must come first to enable strong play. Through reflections on volleyball and hockey experiences, the coaches explore how mindset, team culture, and coaching decisions (especially around playing time and competition) shape both individual development and team outcomes. They also surface a deeper truth: sport is a microcosm of life—where confidence, resilience, and self-belief are learned through experience, reinforced by environment, and tested under pressure.Top 3 TakeawaysIt...

In this episode, Sara and Michelle unpack one of the toughest parts of youth girls volleyball: balancing playing time, confidence, fairness, and team success. Drawing on real tournament experiences, they explore why coaching decisions are rarely simple, how athletes earn roles through practice, and why coming off the bench can feel so emotionally difficult for girls. The conversation also highlights the value of consistency, adaptability, and team-first thinking, reminding both parents and players that growth does not always look flashy. This is a thoughtful, honest episode for volleyball families trying to better understand the dynamics behind court time, confidence...

The drive home after a game is one of the most powerful moments in your athlete’s week. Emotions are high. Identity feels fragile. And what you say — even casually — can either build resilience or quietly chip away at confidence. When parents criticize coaches, compare teammates, or overanalyze performance, girls often internalize it as pressure or inadequacy. But when we shift the conversation toward ownership, team celebration, and personal growth, the car ride becomes a confidence-building ritual. The goal isn’t to ignore mistakes. It’s to create a culture where athletes can celebrate others without feeling diminished, acknowledge their own...

Sara’s long time friend, and former teammate, Kim is the mom of Sadie and shares about the experience of allowing her daughter to figure it out through her challenges. Key learnings of doing your due diligence, but also to allow them to figure it out while continuing an ongoing conversation of what is in your childs control. The family moto of maintaining - PMA -positive mental attitude was essential. As a former college volleyball player herself, Kim also reminded Sadie she could control her attitude and her serve. Mom’...

Sara has a chat with Sadie about a pretty bumpy first two years playing US college volleyball. When a coach turns “bad” how to do you stick it out or decide to change plans. Learning who you are without volleyball. And staying optimistic to move schools and bring your lessons from the challenge to your teammates as this new team struggles to find a few wins.Sadie maintained grateful for the struggle as she knew she could keep a positive outlook and reinforced that she can handle hard things. Her m...

As a parent we can rush to protective mode, but can we get curious first?Asking our athletes questions to help them self-reflect.What is the coaching looking for from you? Skill or effort wise?Are you clear where  you might not be meeting expectations?Are there things the coach has communicated that you are working on? And if not can you approach the coach to ask?Where did you show up in support of your teammate? What was the play that you did that allowed your teammate to be successful?Michelle and Sara also di...

Sara and Michelle turn their camera on while they debrief from the past weekend. A few themes came up around team dynamics and the potential appearance of mean girl behaviour. What can parents and coaches do about it and what can an athlete recognize as her own responsibility in team relationships?Attitude and Energy are what you are in control of. Connecting with teammates doesn’t mean you need to be besties with everyone but it does mean leading with kindness and respect. Team culture of playing for each other and maki...

Sara has a question for Michelle about when players choose to quit playing. What can we do as coaches, and what part can the athletes take responsibility for?Top 3 Take AwaysCoaches care a lot but we can’t be everything to everyone. Parents are biased in their expectations and coaches can have a strong boundary to not take on coaching advice from these parents.Find your support with others who are on the field (or the court). Mastermind with coaches support - coming soon to our Skool community!Communicate our plans and expectations to the at...

Michelle shares her key takeaways from the Empower Her Sport Summit she attended in Calgary, Canada this past weekend. https://www.empowerhersportsummit.com/Visit www.skool.com/unstoppable2026 to join our community, watch the Parent Intro Video, join a workshop or have your athlete on our waitlist for upcoming Unstoppable Athlete Program offerings. 

Develop the habit of goal setting. Start by writing them down. This will give you a map of where you want to go and also helps you keep your intention and motivations clear. You will build confidence as your stick to your plan, and can also notice when you might need some problem solving to get you back on track.Start with performance goals - This is what you want to achieve, include both sport, school, relationships…Then move to process goals - there are the efforts, habits and behaviours you...

Habit of goal setting. Process vs performance goals.Bounce back - the skill of recovering from a setback.For perfectionism - focus on effort and know that change comes from stretching the edges, not staying safe in the middle. Fail fast so you can learn more and go furtherTop 3 Take AwaysBe an example - lead your athlete by doing your own goal setting and tracking where they can observe your actionsKeep your language growth focused -define success as more about becoming and taking risks and less about outcomes. Create a st...

Celebrating the journey and not just the final result. Sara and Michelle riff on the podcast and their volleyball seasons both club and high school. Highlights include - shining your light, focusing on the things we can control - redefining success - instead of winning we made it about trying new things and the success was in being brave and making the attempt to try something new (not the result!)Our goals and intentions for the upcoming year. Doing more athlete interviews and improving our consistency (especially when life gets busy and th...

#17 -  Importance of Self Talk - winning the mental game -Our call to action for athletes - DON’T IGNORE THIS CONVERSATION! You have to do the mental work. Learn about self talk, recognize when what you tell yourself is not helping, RESET, and choose a different story. Become accountable to yourself and also to your teammates. If you notice them being hard on themselves, invite them to reset. "I can do this." Or "I don’t have this, YET." Do the mental preparation, visualize how you would like it to go. Then practice that. T...

Michelle surprises Sara with a prompt about playing time philosophy which leads into a conversation about the different strategies coaches may take. They also touch on all the ways coaches are considering different perspectives and maybe where both parents and coaches can become aware that their beliefs colour their reality.Top 3 TakeawaysThere is no right answerConfirmation bias can cloud your perspective and its important to be aware that you may be filtering out facts that don’t support your opinionLearn and grow from your experience by analyzing and reflecting on the process...

Check out our upcoming dates at www.unstoppableathlete.caParent Workshop and 12 week Unstoppable Athlete workshop waitlist open now!Is not keeping score or giving MVP awards actually a good thing?Are we allowing our girls to change, learn how to embody their competitive fire. Can we teach them to find their people who inspire and support excellence within them? You can be competitive and kind at the same time.Top 3 TakeawaysCompetition is not a dirty wordIf everyone gets a medal it doesn't mean anything Inspire e...

Check out our upcoming dates at www.unstoppableathlete.caParent Workshop and 12 week Unstoppable Athlete workshop waitlist open now!Michelle and Sara know what its like to watch athletes underperform, end up in tears and struggle to let go of perfectionist tendencies. Learn what this may mean and where you can go to learn how to support your athlete.Top 3 Takeaways1. Parents can embody a growth mindset2. Emotional regulation happens when we can regulate our nervous systems and physiology3. Embrace failures as opportunities, notice when...

Sara and Michelle talk about a recent volleyball tournament their team was in and how the attitude of the players translates into playing opportunities.Are you stuck in past mistakes? Is your attitude a detriment to the team?Can you learn the skills to move on? Self awareness is a key to being able to say “next”, and control the things you can control, your attitude and energy.  Know your role and learn how to be the go to player that the coach will look to off the bench, be the best at it!Top...

How athletes need to take ownership for what they are learning from coaches or programs. Where does your fire from within come from and how does it motivate you to move towards your goals? Learning skills to take you to the next level and being motivated to apply them on a consistent basis will define your results.Top 3 Take AwaysBe accountable to yourselfWhat am I willing to do to actually achieve my goals?How do I apply the learning and coaching I receive?Check out www.unstoppableathlete.ca for our 12 week athlete mental...

Sara and Michelle really dig in to the topic of when future aspirations might be a detriment to your team and your experience in the present. Top 3 Take AwaysHow can you show up for your team? With willingness and enthusiasm for what the team needs right now.Don’t play for your highlight reel, play for your team.Sport is the experience you are having right now, not where it might take you. Doors open when you stay present and may be more exciting that what you thought you were working towards. Chec...

#10 - Athlete Interview with Mona. Track athlete, pilates instructor and counsellorKey TakeawaysReasons we compete can be varied and unique to each of usThe body doesn't always speak to us in words, its important to listen to the whispers and trust the intuition.Its all okay! Learning to feel what's true and being okay that things can change. Your motivators of yesterday may not be right for you today. Check out our Unstoppable Athlete 8 week program for you or your team! www.unstoppableathlete.ca