Unstoppable Athlete - Mental Resilience for Teen Athletes

What if developing your entire roster actually gives you a better chance of winning? In this episode, Michelle sits down with Fernie volleyball coach Andrea Reed to talk about coaching philosophy, playing time, athlete development and why building depth matters. They explore the value of getting athletes meaningful game experience, developing players in multiple positions, communicating clearly about roles, and finding ways for eve...

“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 priorit...

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 playin...

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 ...

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 ne...

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 ...

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, ...

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—...

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 t...

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 ...

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”&m...

In this episode, Sara and Michelle unpack a provincial silver medal weekend that became a powerful lesson in team culture, resilience, and competitive maturity. Sara reflects on a group of athletes who had the team “rolling” together—competing hard, recovering quickly from mistakes, encouraging each other, and staying composed under pressure. The heart of the episode is a bench player’s reminder to her coach...

In this episode, Sara and Michelle start with a conversation about travel, discomfort, and the value of being open to unplanned experiences, using Sara’s upcoming trip to Vietnam with her daughter as a metaphor for growth. That reflection leads naturally into a bigger conversation about coachability: the willingness to stay open, adaptable, and teachable even when things feel uncomfortable. They explain that coachable athlete...

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 a...

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, adapta...

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, t...

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 co...

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...

As a parent we can rush to protective mode, but can we get curious first?

Asking our athletes questions to help them self-reflect.

1. What is the coaching looking for from you? Skill or effort wise?
2. Are you clear where  you might not be meeting expectations?
3. Are there things the coach has communicated that you are working on? And if not can you approach the coach to ask?
4. Where did you show up in support of your teammate? 
5. What...