Are you a parent wondering how to best support your young athlete?

Do you find yourself at a loss when it comes to navigating the ups and downs of their sports journey? If so, you’re not alone. Many parents face the challenge of understanding their child’s athletic experiences and providing the right kind of support.

In this blog, we’ll give you a sneak peek inside The Elite Mental Game and take you on a journey through the program from the perspective of a parent, Lauren, who discovered a transformative way to support her 15-year-old volleyball-playing daughter, Augusta.

The Elite Mental Game: A Game-Changer

The Elite Mental Game is a unique mental training program designed for female athletes and their moms. It’s a place where athletes not only learn the mental aspects of their sport but also gain proficiency in our proven Unstoppable Athlete Method. This method lays the foundation for essential mental skills that empower athletes to exude confidence, both on and off the field. Moreover, it equips moms with the knowledge and strategies needed to best support their young athletes.

One distinctive feature of the Elite Mental Game is that it’s structured like a game. Athletes and parents progress through the program, earning points and unlocking exciting rewards along the way. Our training sessions are intentionally short, usually lasting between five to fifteen minutes. We understand that athletes’ attention spans can be limited, so we’ve designed our content to be engaging and efficient. Drawing from my background as a former teacher, I’ve incorporated engaging elements into the program to ensure that learning is not only effective but also enjoyable.

As athletes complete various training modules, they accumulate points and unlock prizes, adding a motivating element to their journey. These prizes are equally appealing to both athletes and parents, encouraging active participation.

Parent Involvement: A Game-Changer

What sets our approach to mental training apart is the integral role parents play in the process. We firmly believe that for athletes to achieve peak confidence and mental strength, parental support is indispensable. While athletes learn valuable skills to navigate the challenges of their sport, parents simultaneously learn how to provide unwavering support. 

We understand that parents might inadvertently hinder their children’s progress if they don’t know what to say or do in different situations. This is where our program shines, by facilitating constructive conversations between athletes and their parents, strengthening the athlete-parent relationship.

The 4 Phases of The Elite Mental Game

Now, let’s delve into the four main phases that athletes and parents go through in the Elite Mental Game program, each of which builds essential mental skills and enhances the parent-athlete relationship.

• Phase 1: The Bounce Back in a SNAP Challenge

Athletes engage in the “Bounce Back in a SNAP Challenge,” acquiring a versatile tool known as the Snapback Routine. This tool helps athletes swiftly recover from errors, offering them the flexibility to complete the challenge at their own pace, either in a single session or spread over a week. Simultaneously, parents explore strategies to support their athletes in managing mistakes effectively.

•  Phase 2: The Elite Mental Game Foundations

This phase establishes the core elements of mental training for athletes. They develop skills such as breath control, visualization, daily mindset routines, and goal setting, bolstering their self-assurance and performance. Parents gain insights into becoming supportive sports parents by integrating research and expert advice from figures like Dr. Becky Kennedy and Dr. Lisa Demore.

• Phase 3: High-Performance Gameplan

Phase 3 focuses on creating a high-performance gameplan. Athletes master pre-competition, post-competition, and during-competition routines to excel in their sport. They construct a personalized pre-competition routine and acquire the ability to process their performance, regardless of the outcome. Parents learn to deliver powerful pep talks and tailor pre-competition routines to actively contribute to their child’s sporting success.

• Phase 4: The Mental Edge Toolkit

Athletes and parents receive a toolkit packed with strategies to address common sports-related challenges. Athletes learn how to handle issues like comparison, perfectionism, injuries, and stress effectively. Similarly, the parent’s toolkit equips them to support their athletes through challenges such as perfectionism and injuries, ensuring they are well-prepared for any situation.

• Phase 5: Making the Skills Stick

The final phase emphasizes the application of acquired skills in real-life situations, ensuring athletes and parents can use them effectively. Participants also receive additional prizes as a reward for their achievements throughout the program.

As you can see, the Elite Mental Game program is flexible and adaptable, allowing athletes and parents to progress at their own pace. Whether your athlete is a quick learner or prefers a more gradual approach, the program caters to their needs. Plus, the added incentives and bonuses, such as thriving under challenging coaches and rising above teammate drama, make it an even more enriching experience.

Starting a Sport Later in Life: A Refreshing Perspective

Now, let’s get into Lauren and Augusta’s story.

Lauren’s story begins with her daughter, Augusta, who found her love for volleyball at the age of 15, a relatively late start compared to many young athletes. Lauren, like any concerned parent, wondered if Augusta was starting too late or if she’d ever catch up. However, their journey challenges the common belief that kids need to start their chosen sport from a young age.

Lauren’s own experience, starting volleyball as a high school sophomore, offered reassurance to Augusta. She realized that late bloomers can thrive in sports too. The key is to discover and pursue what genuinely lights up your child, regardless of their age. Lauren encourages other parents not to feel pressured by the idea that kids must start early in their chosen sport.

The Turning Point: Recognizing the Need for Support

Despite Augusta’s passion for volleyball, her enthusiasm started to fade. Lauren observed her daughter’s growing frustrations as she faced obstacles during competitions. Augusta’s reactions to mistakes on the court, common among teenage athletes, were affecting her overall enjoyment of the game.

Lauren made a well-intentioned but critical mistake by suggesting that Augusta’s confidence might be shaken. She quickly realized that pointing out such issues can inadvertently worsen the situation. This moment prompted Lauren to seek a solution to help her daughter regain her love for the sport and address the emotional challenges she faced.

Discovering the Elite Mental Game Program: A Game-Changer

Lauren’s journey led her to the Elite Mental Game program, a valuable resource for both athletes and their parents. She stumbled upon the program through a podcast and believed it could make a significant difference for Augusta. The program’s emphasis on mental training and building mental resilience resonated with her.

Getting the Athlete on Board: A Two-Step Process

Getting Augusta on board with the program required a strategic approach. Initially, Lauren presented the idea of the program but encountered resistance from her daughter, who felt pressured to “fix” her confidence. Lauren quickly pivoted to a more effective strategy. She shared a podcast episode designed for athletes, allowing Augusta to decide for herself whether the program would be beneficial. This approach gave Augusta a sense of agency, and she ultimately chose to join, feeling that it might indeed be helpful for her.

Immediate Impact: Changes in Perspective

As Lauren and Augusta began their journey through the Elite Mental Game program, they experienced noticeable changes almost immediately. Lauren adopted a more supportive and less intrusive approach, allowing Augusta to express herself without feeling the pressure to “fix” her feelings or experiences. Their conversations improved as Lauren shifted from convincing Augusta that she did well to acknowledging her feelings.

Empowering Athletes to Control Their Emotions

For Augusta, the program offered powerful insights. She learned to manage her emotions better on the court, particularly in response to mistakes. Augusta realized that she had control over her reactions and didn’t need to dwell on negative emotions or engage in self-criticism. This newfound awareness liberated her from the burden of perfectionism and self-imposed pressure.

Strengthening the Parent-Athlete Relationship

Lauren and Augusta’s relationship also evolved throughout their Elite Mental Game journey. Lauren felt less like she was walking on eggshells around her daughter, as she was no longer pressured to say the “right” thing. They began discussing how Lauren could support Augusta more effectively, leading to productive conversations about attendance at competitions and what kind of support Augusta needed during matches.

Creating Shared Language and Understanding

One of the program’s strengths is its emphasis on creating shared language between parents and athletes. Lauren and Augusta found this shared language invaluable as they navigated the challenges of youth sports together. They could discuss their experiences using common terminology from the program, making their conversations more productive and meaningful.

Balancing the Investment of Time and Money

Participating in the Elite Mental Game program requires an investment of both time and money. However, Lauren emphasizes that the benefits far outweigh the costs. Witnessing the joy return to her daughter and feeling her own relief as a parent has been immeasurable. Additionally, the mindset principles learned in the program extend beyond sports and apply to life in general, making it a worthwhile investment in Augusta’s overall growth and development.

Final Thoughts

Lauren’s journey through the Elite Mental Game program showcases the transformative power of mental training for young athletes and their parents. It emphasizes the importance of understanding and supporting your child’s athletic journey, even if they start later in life. By providing the right tools and language, parents can empower their young athletes to take control of their emotions, build resilience, and find joy in sports once again.

If you’re a parent wondering how to best support your young athlete, consider exploring the Elite Mental Game program. It might just be the game-changer you and your child need to unlock their full potential and enjoy a more fulfilling sports experience together. Remember, it’s not just an investment in sports; it’s an investment in your child’s confidence and well-being, both on and off the field.

Episode Highlights: 

[0:23] A sneak peek into The Elite Mental Game program for girl athletes and their moms, which includes mental training and support for both athletes and moms.

[1:54] Parental involvement: Parents learn how to support athletes through a separate half of the program, fostering a strong athlete-parent relationship.

[04:23] The four main phases in The Elite Mental Game program.

[07:11] Parenting and athletic challenges with a former program participant.

[13:05] Supporting a teenage volleyball player struggling with confidence.

[17:24] Mental game coaching for athletes.

[21:18] Parenting and athletic performance.

[26:25] Parenting a teen athlete with shared language and strategies.

[31:58] Prioritizing mental training for athletes with a helpful assistant.

Next Steps:

• The Elite Mental Game is open for enrollment! Check it out and join here during our special enrollment period!

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