Let’s be real: being a sports mom is hard.

You’re navigating tournaments, practices, teenage mood swings, and figuring out how to support your daughter through the highs and lows of her athletic journey. And when it comes to her confidence and mental game? That’s a whole different beast.

If you’ve ever felt unsure about how to help your daughter handle the pressure, get her head back in the game after a mistake, or simply not spiral into self-doubt, you’re in the right place. In this post, I’m sharing the honest reviews and raw insights from three moms – Jamie, Kim, and Dawn – who’ve been exactly where you are. They’ve enrolled their daughters in the Elite Mental Game (EMG) program and are here to share what it’s really like.

Stick with me to hear their wins, struggles, and the game-changing tools they’ve used to turn things around. By the end, you’ll know if mental training is the missing piece for your daughter’s success in sports – and in life.

Why Moms Turn to Mental Training

Every mom I spoke to had a unique story, but one common thread: they all wanted to help their daughters thrive – not just on the field, court, or arena – but in life.

Jamie and Haley’s Journey: “I had no idea how to help her.”

Jamie is mom to Haley, a 13-year-old equestrian and volleyball player. When Haley hit her pre-teen years, things changed. Jamie shared:

“I noticed when we hit like that 11-year-old mark with Haley, like a lot of kind of weird things were going on with her, and the horse was being amped up. I pinpointed that it was her.”

 She added, “When we started volleyball a few years ago, it was just like a whole different dynamic with the girls from school and that drama that got brought in. And then, going through that age as a girl and wondering what happened to my happy-go-lucky kid that was now screaming at me after tournaments, saying she hates everyone, and angry sobbing… I had no idea how to help her. Everything I said was wrong.”

For Jamie, EMG was a way to figure out how to support Haley without unintentionally making things worse.

Kim and Lila’s Experience: “If I knew how to be confident, I’d already be doing it.”

Kim’s daughter Lila is a basketball player who struggled with confidence, despite being talented. Kim explained:

“She had heard repeatedly from coaches, ‘Lila, you’re great. Just keep it up.’ The problem was they weren’t giving her the tools to actually build confidence.”

Kim recalled a moment that stuck with her: “She was just breaking down, saying, ‘Don’t these people think that if I knew how to be confident, I would be doing that? Because I don’t like what’s happening to me out here right now.’”

That’s when Kim knew they needed something more than surface-level advice.

Dawn and Paige’s Story: “I didn’t want to overstep.”

Dawn’s daughter Paige, an 11-year-old AAA boys’ hockey goaltender, faced unique challenges. As Dawn put it:

“For a goaltender who’s out playing games, the coach is really there for the players and not so much the goaltender. Her goalie coach is fully separate from the team. So, I always felt like I had to take on that role, but it didn’t feel right to me.”

For Dawn, EMG offered a way to support Paige without stepping into the role of her coach.

The Tools Making a Difference

The moms shared the specific tools and techniques from EMG that have had the biggest impact on their daughters’ mental game.

• The Snapback Routine

Mistakes are inevitable, but how athletes handle them is key. EMG’s Snapback Routine teaches athletes how to recover quickly and stay mentally focused.

“For Paige, definitely right away was the snapback for sure,” Dawn said. “As a goaltender, if you let a goal in, that is your weight to bear. So, she’s really done very well at the snapback and just moving on.”

• Daily Mindset Routine: 3-2-1 Brave

Athletes in EMG learn a five-minute daily mindset routine to stay mentally sharp. It includes writing affirmations, journaling, practicing gratitude, and visualizing success. We call it 3-2-1 Brave. It’s just a super easy way for athletes to keep their mental training top of mind in a journal.

• Support for Moms

Moms also have access to training and support through EMG, which often makes a significant difference in how they interact with their athletes. Jamie shared: “Even just going through [the program] quickly built a lot more awareness of how I say things… That was a huge shift for me. And then just seeing how she responds to that – it might not necessarily be pushing her to do anymore, but it’s not damaging the relationship and it’s not damaging the play.”

How the Program Works: A Flexible Approach for Busy Families

One of the standout features of EMG is how it fits into the hectic lives of athletes and their families. The program is designed to be flexible, manageable, and supportive – meeting athletes where they are.

Kim shared, “We have busy lives. Our kids have busy lives. The fact that the content is flexible and the scheduling can be flexible enables these busy kids, athletes, and families to really consume the content easily in a way that works for them.”

The program is structured into short, easy-to-digest lessons. The trainings are between three and fifteen minutes. They’re short, engaging, and athletes interact in the training portal. They can follow a training plan that recommends 30 minutes a week, or just a couple of minutes a day doing their daily mindset routine.

For families with younger athletes, the program can even be a shared experience. Jamie said, “A lot of our younger kiddos are doing it once a week with their parents. They’ll sit down together, maybe have a date at Starbucks, and go through it.”

This flexibility allows families to adapt the program to their schedules and needs, ensuring mental training becomes a consistent, manageable part of their routine.

Challenges and Wins

Not every athlete is fully ready to get into mental training headfirst, but the moms shared how patience and small steps have led to big wins.

Jamie: Watching Haley Engage

“It was really tough and still is a struggle to get her to commit to doing the program weekly,” Jamie admitted. But when Haley joined a live athlete-level coaching call, Jamie saw a turning point.

“I went back and listened to the playback and I was almost in tears to see how engaged she was in answering questions and giving suggestions to other athletes,” she said.

Kim: Leadership and Confidence

Lila, now a senior and team captain, uses the program’s tools not just for herself but also to help her teammates. Kim shared: “She’s been able to come back to the content, come back to the programs, listen again from a position of leadership to a lot of what she originally learned for herself. And now, how she can actually help some of her teammates.”

Kim also highlighted the program’s long-term impact: “We continue to utilize all of the content that we’ve learned here, and all of the tools and all the resources, even as Lila’s progressed over the last couple of years.”

Dawn: Beyond the Rink

For Paige, the tools have influenced her life beyond hockey. Dawn explained: “She puts herself to bed early. She eats well. Like she’s really taking it as a whole approach to not just being an athlete – it’s really fun to watch.”

Why It’s Worth It

When asked what they would tell other moms considering EMG, each mom emphasized the unique value the program has brought to their families:

• Jamie highlighted how EMG gave her tools to change how she interacted with her daughter, improving their relationship and helping her navigate Haley’s athletic journey. Even small adjustments made a big difference over time.

• Kim spoke about how the program exceeded her expectations by helping her daughter build confidence and leadership skills. She also appreciated how the lessons applied beyond sports, shaping her daughter’s overall growth as a person.

• Dawn reflected on how EMG helped her daughter develop a stronger mental game while taking responsibility for her training and well-being. For her, the program is about building lifelong skills that extend far beyond the rink.

Ready to Support Your Athlete?

Mental training isn’t just about sports; it’s about equipping your daughter with the skills to handle challenges in every area of life. Whether she’s struggling with confidence, navigating team dynamics, or just looking to level up, the Elite Mental Game program offers tools, coaching, and a supportive community to help her succeed.

Ready to join the EMG family? Click here to get started today. You’ve got this!

Episode Highlights: 

[00:00:00] Introducing today’s focus: hearing directly from three moms with daughters in the Elite Mental Game (EMG). These moms are at different stages of the program, giving you an inside look at how EMG supports athletes and their families.

[00:01:00] Why This Episode Matters: I explain how hearing from moms can help other parents considering EMG for their athletes. You’ll get real, honest insights from moms navigating everything from early buy-in to long-term success.

[00:02:00] Shoutout to Jamie: One of our moms shares how her daughter, an equestrian athlete, used EMG tools to maintain her poise during a challenging horse show, earning praise from her coach for staying calm under pressure.

[00:03:30] Overview of EMG: I break down what EMG is – our proven, flexible mental training program for girl athletes – and highlight its self-paced format, practical tools, and ongoing support.

[00:05:00] When to Start: I share why starting mental training between ages 11 and 12 is ideal but emphasize that it’s never too late for athletes to build confidence and mental strength.

[00:07:00] Live Coaching: I explain the live coaching included in EMG, such as bi-monthly calls and text-based support for athletes, which allow them to engage at their comfort level and get tailored guidance.

[00:09:30] Answering Common Questions: I address questions I frequently get, like how to help athletes stay consistent with mental training and ways to encourage buy-in.

[00:18:39] Guest Introductions: Jamie, Kim, and Dawn introduce themselves and share their daughters’ sports, including volleyball, basketball, hockey, and equestrian, as well as their goals for mental training.

[00:25:00] Why They Joined EMG: Each mom shares what brought them to EMG – whether it was to help their daughters overcome self-doubt, navigate team dynamics, or strengthen their own communication as sports parents.

[00:33:00] First Wins: From snapback routines that build resilience to better parent-athlete relationships, the moms share the early shifts they noticed after starting EMG.

[00:38:00] Long-Term Growth: Kim shares how her daughter, now a senior and team captain, revisits EMG tools to manage feedback, lead her team, and maintain confidence as she transitions to college basketball.

[00:45:00] Favorite Parts of EMG: The moms highlight their favorite features, including the flexibility to work at their own pace, the supportive community, and practical tools that empower both athletes and parents.

[00:52:00] Handling Phone Distractions: The moms discuss strategies for managing pre-game phone use, with tips on creating awareness, setting expectations, and encouraging natural consequences to build accountability.

[00:55:00] Watching Game Film: I share how to review post-game recordings constructively, focusing on identifying strengths and actionable goals to guide practice without overwhelming athletes.

[01:03:00] Navigating New Teams: The moms offer advice for athletes adjusting to new teams, including ways to build trust by working hard, observing dynamics, and finding natural ways to connect with teammates.

[01:07:00] Final Reflections: Each mom reflects on the program’s impact, from helping their daughters grow as athletes and individuals to strengthening their relationships as families.

Next Steps:

• Join our FREE Training for Sports Moms – How to Strengthen Your Athlete Daughter’s Mental Game so She Believes in Herself as Much as You Do
• Visit our podcast website for more great episodes

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