Raising Elite Competitors

Athlete of the Month: Mackenzie's Mental Game Breakthrough

💛 A 9-year-old competitive swimmer learned one mental skill and dropped time in every single event. Grab the free training for your daughter: https://trainhergame.com/momMeet Mackenzie. She's nine years old, a competitive swimmer, and our December Athlete of the Month inside the Elite Mental Game.At her first swim meet after starting the program, she used her Snapback Routine for the very first time. She placed first in two events. Third in another. And dropped nearly 14 seconds in one event alone.Her mom Sarah said she was blown away by Mackenzie's excitement, dedication, and commitment. In fact, Mackenzie asked for a journal so she could take notes on the Zoom calls.🏊‍♀️ In this episode, you'll hear:✅ What Mackenzie said about her first time using the Snapback Routine✅ Why mental skills matter even more in swimming (the clock doesn't lie)✅ What Sarah noticed about her daughter's confidence before her next meet✅ How mom and daughter worked through the program togetherThis is the shared transformation we talk about. When your daughter has the tools to reset quickly, she doesn't just swim faster. She believes in herself differently. And that's the whole point. 💛💬 Key Moments:00:00 Introduction01:20 Mackenzie's Snapback Routine Success02:03 First Swim Meet Results02:58 Mom's Perspective04:55 Closing & Call to ActionAthlete of the month episodes are hosted by REC Coach Saylor, a mental performance coach for girl athletes. I empower girl athletes with tools to build confidence and manage pressure so they can compete freely and passionately. New AOTM episodes every month!📌 Free Tools & Next Steps🙌 What's Your Competitor Style Quiz (to send your athlete!): https://www.videoask.com/fnbmhduxy💜 Conversation Guide w/ Scripts to Bring Up Mental Training: https://s3.amazonaws.com/kajabi-storefronts-production/file-uploads/sites/144031/downloads/66e16c-6886-4a62-b8db-c43a1ae18fbd_The_Elite_Mental_Game_Conversation_Starter.pdf%20🎯 FREE Training for Sports Moms: https://trainhergame.com/mom📺 YouTube Playlist for Athletes: https://www.youtube.com/@AthleteMentalEdge🎓 The Elite Mental Game (our self-paced mental training program): https://elitecompetitor.com/emg🔔 Subscribe for more mental training tips for girl athletes ⬇️ P.S. - Stats worth knowing:According to research from the NCAA, 85% of elite athletes use mental training as a regular part of their performance preparation. (NCAA, 2020)A study published in the Journal of Applied Sport Psychology found that pre-performance routines significantly reduce anxiety and improve consistency in athletes. (Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 2010)Athletes who learn emotional regulation skills before age 12 are significantly more likely to maintain sport participation through high school. (Aspen Institute, Project Play, 2022)The Raising Elite Competitors podcast is hosted by The Elite Competitor and is dedicated to helping sports moms strengthen their daughter's mental game and confidence in order to help her perform her best when it matters most.#mentalperformance #girlathlete #sportsparentingJoin the What to Say Challenge February 24th-27th!LINK TO REGISTER

We Quit Our Sports. Now We're Helping Girls Stay and Lead with Confidence

We both quit our sports despite being talented. Here's what girls actually need to stay in the game → https://trainhergame.com/momGirls are quitting sports at twice the rate of boys by age 14. But it's not about talent or access.The real reason? Mental game. Fear of judgment, anxiety, pressure to perform, low confidence.In this episode, my co-founder Kristina and I are sharing our personal stories about quitting our sports. Stories we don't usually tell.Kristina was a basketball starter who quit her senior year because she physically couldn't shoot anymore. Not because she lost her skills, but because she couldn't handle the pressure of standing out and the fear of friends getting mad at her for being too good.I turned down college volleyball offers after my senior year because the emotional cost felt unbearable. Between my parents' divorce and perfectionism, I felt like I was failing everyone no matter what I did.We both came back to our sports later. But we shouldn't have had to quit in the first place to find peace.That's why we built The Elite Competitor and the Play, Stay, Lead mission.What You'll Learn:✅ Why girls quit sports at twice the rate of boys (and it's not what you think)✅ The real reason talented athletes walk away from their sport✅ How mental game challenges show up (pressure to be invisible, perfectionism, anxiety)✅ What keeps girls in sports longer and turns them into confident leaders✅ The mission behind everything we do at The Elite Competitor👋🏼 I'm Coach Bre, a mental performance coach for girl athletes, Co-Founder of The Elite Competitor, and a former head volleyball coach and 4-time state champion.🕓 Key Moments: 00:00 Introduction: The Girls Sports Crisis02:40 The Mission: Play, Stay, Lead04:39 Kristina's Story: Quitting Basketball12:32 Bre's Story: Walking Away from Volleyball17:04 Coming Back: Finding the Game Again22:36 Why Girls Quit: The Mental Game Gap24:13 Building Future Leaders Through Sports25:52 How You Can Help: Parents and Coaches💬 Parents - comment below: Did you or your daughter ever struggle with wanting to be good but not wanting to stand out?📌 Resources & Tools🙌 What's Your Competitor Style Quiz (to send your athlete!): https://www.videoask.com/fnbmhduxy💜 Conversation Guide w/ Scripts to Bring Up Mental Training: https://s3.amazonaws.com/kajabi-storefronts-production/file-uploads/sites/144031/downloads/66e16c-6886-4a62-b8db-c43a1ae18fbd_The_Elite_Mental_Game_Conversation_Starter.pdf%20🎯 FREE Training for Sports Moms: https://trainhergame.com/mom📺 YouTube Playlist for Athletes: https://www.youtube.com/@AthleteMentalEdge🎓 The Elite Mental Game (our self-paced mental training program): https://elitecompetitor.com/emg🔔 Subscribe for more mental training tips for girl athletes ⬇️  Raising Elite Competitors  P.S. A few stats worth knowing:⚡️ Girls quit sports at twice the rate of boys by age 14 (Women's Sports Foundation, Aspen Institute)⚡️ 94% of women in C-suite positions played sports growing up (Ernst & Young and espnW)⚡️ 70% of girls drop out of sports by age 13 (National Alliance for Youth Sports)The Raising Elite Competitors Podcast is hosted by The Elite Competitor and is dedicated to helping sports moms strengthen their daughter's mental game and confidence in order to help her perform her best when it matters most.#girlssports #mentalperformance #sportsparenting #girlathlete #youthsportsJoin the What to Say Challenge February 24th-27th!LINK TO REGISTER

How to Handle Team Drama Without Making It Worse (What Sports Moms Need to Know)

Your daughter's dealing with team drama and everything you say seems to make it worse. Let me show you what actually helps → https://trainhergame.com/mom In this conversation with teen relationship expert Sheri Gazitt (founder of Teen Wise), we're breaking down why girls default to mean girl behavior, what parents accidentally do that shuts daughters down, and the exact 4-step formula that teaches girls to handle conflict without the drama. 🙋‍♀️ Hi, I'm Coach Bre, a certified Mental Performance Coach and former collegiate athlete with 14 years of coaching experience, including 4 state championships. I'm also the co-founder of The Elite Competitor and host of the Raising Elite Competitors podcast, where I help sports moms strengthen their daughter's mental game so they can perform their best when it matters most.  👤 My guest is Sheri Gazitt. She founded Teen Wise 15 years ago after 30 years in psychology. Sheri specializes in helping teen girls navigate friendships, team dynamics, and mean girl behavior through private coaching, community presentations, and her Game On webinar for coaches.  🧐What You'll Learn:✅ The 4-step conflict conversation formula that actually works for teen girls (affirm, share, own, seek solution)✅ Why exclusion happens and how to help without being intrusive✅ The difference between gossiping to connect vs gossiping with negative intent✅ How to support your daughter when she feels left out by teammates✅ Proactive strategies coaches can use before drama erupts This isn't theory. It's what works when she's shut down in the car ride home and you have no idea what to say. 💛 💬 Key Moments:00:00 Introduction to Teen Wise05:14 Common Types of Drama Girls Face07:51 Teaching Conflict Resolution Skills14:55 Early Warning Signs for Parents16:38 How Parents Should Respond19:59 When to Involve Coaches24:47 Helping Girls Who Feel Excluded29:31 Top 3 Mistakes Parents Make35:46 Guidance for Coaches39:48 Resources and Wrap-Up 💬 Moms - comment below: What's the biggest friendship or team drama challenge you're facing with your daughter right now? 📌 Resources & ToolsYou can find Sheri at: Teen Wise Website: https://www.teen-wise.com/Be Teen Wise Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beteenwise/🙌 What's Your Competitor Style Quiz (to send your athlete!): https://www.videoask.com/fnbmhduxy💜 Conversation Guide w/ Scripts to Bring Up Mental Training: https://s3.amazonaws.com/kajabi-storefronts-production/file-uploads/sites/144031/downloads/66e16c-6886-4a62-b8db-c43a1ae18fbd_The_Elite_Mental_Game_Conversation_Starter.pdf%20🎯 FREE Training for Sports Moms: https://trainhergame.com/mom📺 YouTube Playlist for Athletes: https://www.youtube.com/@AthleteMentalEdge🎓 The Elite Mental Game (our self-paced mental training program): https://elitecompetitor.com/emg 🔔Subscribe for more mental training tips for girl athletes ⬇️ Raising Elite Competitors YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RaisingEliteCompetitors P.S. Here's what the research shows about girls and sports:Join the What to Say Challenge February 24th-27th!LINK TO REGISTER

[ATHLETE TIP] When You're Feeling Nervous, Try This!

Feeling nervous before games? Here's a simple one-word reframe that changes everything: Instead of saying "I'm nervous," say "I'm excited." Your body literally can't tell the difference. 🎯 FREE ATHLETE TRAINING: trainhergame.comHere's the truth: nervousness and excitement produce identical physical responses. Faster heartbeat. Clammy hands. Dilated pupils. The only difference is how you label it. When you reframe nerves as excitement, you stop viewing your body's response as a threat and start seeing it as your competitive advantage. This one shift helps you show up ready to compete at your best. In this episode, I break down the science behind why this works and share a client win from Rose, a track athlete who just broke 7 minutes in the 1600 for the first time using mental training tools. Plus, I introduce the concept of finding your optimal "hype number" so you can show up at exactly the right energy level every single time. 👋🏼 I'm Coach Bre, a Certified Mental Performance Coach and former 4x state championship volleyball coach with 14 years of experience. I help girl athletes ages 11-18 build unshakeable confidence and develop the mental skills that create a competitive advantage. At The Elite Competitor, we believe your mental game is what separates good athletes from great ones. 🕓 Key Moments: 00:00 Introduction: Nervousness is Normal00:38 Athlete Spotlight: Rose's Success01:31 The Hack: Say 'I'm Excited'01:49 Understanding Your Body's Response02:58 Advanced Strategies & Resources 💬 Athletes - comment below: how do you manage your nerves before big games? 💡 MENTAL TRAINING RESOURCES FOR ATHLETES:🔗 Free Training: trainhergame.com🔗 The Elite Mental Game Program: elitecompetitor.com/emg🔗 Instagram: @raising.elite.competitors🔗 FREE Training for Sports Moms: https://trainhergame.com/mom📺 YouTube Playlist for Athletes: https://www.youtube.com/@AthleteMentalEdg🙌 What's Your Competitor Style Quiz (for athletes!): https://www.videoask.com/fnbmhduxy📩 Questions? Email us: hello@elitecompetitor.com 🔔 Subscribe for more mental training tips for girl athletes ⬇️ Raising Elite Competitors YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RaisingEliteCompetitorsP.S.💡 Studies show that reframing anxiety as excitement improves performance in high-pressure situations by up to 22% (Harvard Business School). 💡 85% of elite athletes work with sports psychologists or mental performance coaches (American Psychological Association).💡 Research confirms the physiological response to excitement and anxiety is nearly identical—your body genuinely can't tell the difference (Journal of Experimental Psychology). The Raising Elite Competitors YouTube channel is hosted by The Elite Competitor and is dedicated to helping sports moms strengthen their daughter's mental game and confidence in order to help her perform her best when it matters most. #PreGameNerves #AthleteMentalTraining #SportsPerformance #MentalGame #CompetitiveAthletes #SportsAnxiety #MentalToughness #YouthSports #GirlAthletes #EliteCompetitor

Car Ride Home After Bad Games: What to Do When She Beats Herself Up

If your daughter has ever said "I suck" after a game and you had no idea how to respond, this one's for you. 💛 Join my free training for sports moms: https://trainhergame.com/mom I used to think the best response was to immediately reassure her. Tell her she played great. Remind her of all the things she did well. But here's what I learned after 14 years of coaching girl athletes: That response actually makes her feel MORE misunderstood, not less. In this video, I'm breaking down the 3-step system that actually works when your daughter tears herself apart after games or practices. 🎯 What you'll learn:Why "No you don't! You played great!" backfires (and what she's actually hearing when you say it)The 3-step response system: Validate → Ask → Offer PerspectiveWhy your response is only half the solution (she needs her own mental skills too)Real transformation story: How one mom went from dreading pickup to easy car rides home I also share the story of Leah and her daughter Campbell, who went from 20 minutes of post-practice negativity to healthy, objective processing after learning mental skills through our program. 🕓 Key Moments: 00:00 Introduction02:24 What's Really Happening03:45 The Three-Step System03:53 Step 1: Validate the Feeling05:30 Step 2: Ask Don't Tell06:50 Step 3: Offer Perspective07:50 Mental Skills Training The Elite Mental Game teaches athletes how to catch negative thoughts before they spiral, use reset routines in real time, and assess their performance objectively instead of catastrophizing. When you combine YOUR calm response with HER mental skills training, the car rides home get so much easier. 💬 Moms - comment below: What's your biggest struggle your daughter has a bad game? 📌 Free Tools & Next Steps🙌 What's Your Competitor Style Quiz (to send your athlete!): https://www.videoask.com/fnbmhduxy💜 Conversation Guide w/ Scripts to Bring Up Mental Training: https://s3.amazonaws.com/kajabi-storefronts-production/file-uploads/sites/144031/downloads/66e16c-6886-4a62-b8db-c43a1ae18fbd_The_Elite_Mental_Game_Conversation_Starter.pdf%20🎯 FREE Training for Sports Moms: https://trainhergame.com/mom📺 YouTube Playlist for Athletes: https://www.youtube.com/@AthleteMentalEdge🎓 The Elite Mental Game (our self-paced mental training program): https://elitecompetitor.com/emg 🔔 Subscribe for more mental training tips for girl athletes ⬇️ Raising Elite Competitors YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RaisingEliteCompetitors P.S. Did you know that 70% of kids quit organized sports by age 13, with pressure and lack of enjoyment as primary reasons? (National Alliance for Youth Sports)Research shows that athletes with mental skills training demonstrate 45% greater improvement in performance consistency compared to those receiving only physical training. (Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 2019)According to the Aspen Institute's Project Play, parents' post-game behavior is the #1 factor affecting whether young athletes continue in sports - ahead of coaching quality and playing time. (Aspen Institute, 2023)Studies show that 85% of elite athletes work with mental pJoin the What to Say Challenge February 24th-27th!LINK TO REGISTER