The Mental Approach To Youth Sports

Walter Beede and I unpack the realities of the modern baseball recruiting landscape. Drawing on his experience as a former college coach and father of two recruited players, Walter explains why today’s parents are often stuck in an outdated mindset, chasing early exposure, showcases, and rankings instead of focusing on long-term development and honest evaluation.

We talk about how the true recruiting window has shifted later, ...

This week we turn the tables on host Todd Arkell as he no longer gets to ask the questions. Instead Matt Cundill host of You May Also Like interviews Todd. They discuss the evolution of youth sports, emphasizing the shift from informal play to highly organized, expensive travel teams. Matt digs into why Todd launched his "Mental Approach to Youth Sports" podcast to address the mental health challenges faced by young athletes. Discu...

Think your athlete is ready for the next level? Most NCAA coaches say they aren’t even close.

In this powerhouse series finale of The Mental Approach, we’re stripping away the highlight reels and the "guru" fluff to deliver the ultimate reality check. We’ve synthesized the best moments from nine deep-dive interviews with NCAA coaches and recruiting experts to reveal what it actually takes to survive—and thriv...

Your kid isn't getting recruited. And it's probably not for the reason you think.

A 4.0 student can be ineligible for the NCAA. A five-star talent can lose his spot to a "glue guy." And that $3,000 exposure tournament you just paid for? One Power Four coach compares it to waiting 90 minutes for a three-minute Disney ride.

In this two-part compilation, Todd Arkell sits down with recruiting coordinators and compliance experts from Mich...

In this episode of The Mental Approach, we sit down with Morgan Kane-Brons of Winning Edge Coaching to talk about what it actually looks like to build a championship mindset from the ground up. Morgan went from winning a Big 12 title at Iowa State to becoming a mental performance coach, but her path wasn’t always smooth. She’s incredibly open about the fact that as a freshman, she basically laughed off the idea of sport...

Do you ever wonder why "can't-miss" youth athletes sometimes disappear while late bloomers eventually rise to the top? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Joe Baker, a leading researcher on athlete development and co-author of The Tyranny of Talent. Together, we challenge one of the sports world's most deeply held beliefs: that success is primarily driven by natural ability. Dr. Baker explains how placing early labels on kids can...

Coach Craig Kolek , a former NCAA volleyball coach who has transitioned to a mental performance coach joins the show emphasizing body language, focus, and self-talk. He highlights the importance of athletes' ability to bounce back from mistakes quickly and maintain present-moment focus. Craig's approach has evolved, now seeking athlete input before coaching. He stresses the significance of goal setting, routines, and intrinsic moti...

I am joined by 11-time Ironman champion, Author of An Unlikely Champion, motivational speaker and cystic fibrosis advocate Lisa Bentley to explore what it really means to compete with heart. Lisa walks me through her journey from a self-described “chubby little girl” who was told she’d never be an athlete, to becoming one of the world’s premier endurance racers. She shares how discovering her cystic fibrosis...

In this episode, we are joined by Michael Huber, a mental performance coach specializing in youth sports.

The episode provides a deep dive into the mental side of youth athletics, Huber shares his transition from business consulting to sports psychology, driven by his own experiences as a youth coach and a former player who struggled with the "mental game."

Key themes include:

• The Intentional Parent

• Identity Foreclosure

• The "Prof...

In this episode of the Mental Approach podcast, host Todd Arkell interviews Dr. Jen Fry, a TEDx speaker and conflict expert, about the role of conflict in sports and organizational dynamics. They discuss how conflict can be a driver for growth, the importance of acknowledging different identities and experiences, and the challenges of creating inclusive environments in sports. Jen shares insights from her experience as a volleyball...

In this episode of the Mental Approach Podcast, host Todd Arkell and mental health professional Dale Curd delve into the complexities of imposter syndrome. They explore its definition, common misconceptions, and the role of the ego in shaping our self-perception. Dale shares personal experiences and practical strategies for overcoming feelings of inadequacy, emphasizing the importance of repetition, visualization, and mentorship. T...

What happens when good intentions collide with outdated systems?

In this episode, Todd sits down with Allison for an unfiltered conversation about what’s really happening inside youth sport—especially hockey—and why “safe sport” policies aren’t translating into safer experiences for kids.

They dig into the gap between policy and practice: why 60-page rulebooks and online modules don’t change ...

In this conversation, Todd Arkell interviews Andrew Simpson, founder of Players Fitness and Performance, discussing the importance of mental performance in youth sports. Andrew shares his journey from a fitness enthusiast to a successful entrepreneur, emphasizing the need for a holistic approach that includes mindset coaching, nutrition, and physical training. Andrew outlines his "peak performance state triangle" and the "say nothi...

When your sport background includes, national champion and professional surfer, UCLA collegiate softball player, dirt bike racer and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt multi-world, national, international, and Pan American champion, you might know a thing or two about mindset.  In this conversation, Mental Performance coach Danielle Martin joins the show for a second time to discuss her upcoming book Martial Mentality as well...

Food fuels the brain and in todays high performance culture, food fuels your body to become bigger, stronger and faster. In this episode, Todd Arkell interviews Shannon Mendez, A D1 sports dietitian and sports nutrition specialist, discussing the critical role of nutrition in athletic and mental performance. They explore Shannon's personal journey into sports nutrition, the importance of fueling the body for both physical and menta...

When an MLB broadcast casually criticized her son, Leslee Holliday wasn’t shocked. She’s spent two decades riding the highs and lows of professional baseball with her husband Matt Holliday, and now with their sons Jackson and Ethan. What did surprise her was a different thought: What are the other parents feeling right now—the ones who didn’t grow up in this world?

In this conversation, Todd Arkell spea...

In this conversation, Todd Arkell interviews Dan Connerty, founder of Ntangible, a company focused on enhancing mental performance for athletes through innovative assessment tools. They discuss the importance of measuring mental resilience, the science behind Ntangible's assessments, and how these tools can be applied in various sports and even beyond athletics. The conversation highlights the need for personalized mental training ...

Todd Arkell interviews Canadian golfer Monet Chun, who shares her journey from a young athlete in Richmond Hill Canada to playing at the University Michigan, where she won 2024 Big Ten Golfer of the Year and is a two-time Big Ten Championship medalist (2022, 2024). Chun now has her sites set on a LPGA tour card, currently playing on the Epson Tour developing her game to rise to the next level. Monet discusses the importance of ment...

Ryan Mittleman, Vice President of Pro Scouting for the Toronto Blue Jays, discussed his journey from hockey to baseball, highlighting his role in player acquisition and scouting. He detailed the differences between amateur and pro scouting, emphasizing the importance of player projection and financial considerations. Mittleman shared insights on managing emotional highs and lows in scouting, the impact of new leadership, and the ev...