From Rock Bottom to Varsity: How Kate Rebuilt Her Confidence and Fell Back in Love With Her Sport
When your daughter loses her spark… you feel it too.
If you’ve ever watched your daughter walk off the field fighting back tears, avoiding eye contact, or whispering “I’m just not good enough”… you know how heavy that moment feels.
You want to scoop her up and fix it all.
You want her to see herself the way you do.
And you want her to feel proud, confident, and happy again.
But sometimes, she just keeps slipping further into self doubt.
And you’re left wondering, “How do I actually help her through this?”
This is exactly where Kate’s story begins.
And it is exactly why you need to hear what happened next.
The Moment Everything Crumbled for Kate
Kate is a field hockey player who entered eighth grade feeling strong, prepared, and ready to try out for JV. She practiced year-round. She played club. She worked hard.
But when tryouts came… her nerves took over.
She fumbled easy plays.
She second guessed every move.
She went home each day replaying every mistake.
When the roster was posted, Kate’s name wasn’t on it.
She was crushed.
She cried for an hour.
She questioned if she even belonged in her sport anymore.
She thought about quitting.
And if you’ve ever had a daughter in sports, you know how real this is.
In fact:
- Over 70 percent of girl athletes report feeling anxious or not good enough in their sport
- More than half consider quitting at least once in middle or high school
- Most are never taught how to handle nerves, pressure, or mistakes
Kate wasn’t alone.
She was just never taught how to train the mental side of her game.
But that is exactly where her story takes a turn.
The Turning Point That Changed Everything
Kate’s mom saw her struggling, and like so many moms, she felt helpless. She couldn’t make tryouts easier. She couldn’t remove the pressure. She couldn’t stop the self-criticism.
But she could give Kate tools she never had before.
So she enrolled Kate in the Elite Mental Game.
At first, Kate didn’t think it would help.
Another program? Another “thing” to try?
But then something shifted.
She learned:
- How to use self-talk that actually builds confidence
- How to create bounce back routines she could rely on under pressure
- How to visualize success and walk into big moments without fear
- How to handle nerves in a way that helped her play better instead of worse
Bit by bit, she started believing in herself again.
By ninth grade tryouts, she wasn’t the same athlete.
She wasn’t playing scared.
She wasn’t playing tight.
She wasn’t playing to avoid mistakes.
She was playing like Kate.
And then the moment came…
She made varsity. As a freshman.
Yes, you read that right.
And while that achievement was incredible, it wasn’t the real victory.
The real victory was this:
Kate got her joy back.
She showed up confidently.
She stopped letting one setback define her.
And she proved to herself that she is capable, resilient, and powerful.
This is the part that gives every girl athlete goosebumps.
And honestly… every mom too.
Your Daughter Can Have Confidence Like This
You might be wondering:
Could my daughter bounce back the way Kate did?
Yes.
Absolutely yes.
Because here’s the truth most moms don’t hear enough:
Confidence is a skill.
Resilience is a skill.
Handling pressure is a skill.
And your daughter can learn every single one of them.
If she has ever:
- Come off the field in tears
- Struggled with nerves at tryouts
- Been afraid of letting people down
- Beaten herself up after every mistake
- Lost her spark for the sport she once loved
Then she is exactly the kind of athlete who benefits the most from training her mental game.
Just like Kate.
And just like thousands of girls inside The Elite Competitor Program.
Imagine your daughter walking into tryouts feeling calm and ready.
Imagine her rebounding from mistakes in seconds instead of spiraling for hours.
Imagine her believing in herself even when others doubt her.
Imagine her smiling again while doing the sport she once adored.
This isn’t unrealistic.
This is mental training.
Why Moms Are a Critical Part of the Confidence Equation
One of the biggest differences in The Elite Mental Game is that moms are included on purpose. Because your voice and support matter.
Moms often say:
“I just don’t know what to say anymore.”
“I feel like I’m walking on eggshells after games.”
“She won’t listen to me but I want to help.”
“I wish someone had taught me these tools when I was her age.”
You don’t need to solve everything for her.
You just need to give her the right support.
And that is exactly what we equip you to do.
You get tools, scripts, and strategies so that:
- Conversations after games become calmer
- You know how to help without pressure
- Your daughter actually listens
- You feel like a team instead of opponents
Because when a girl has a confident mom in her corner, she becomes unstoppable.
What Kate’s Story Proves
Kate’s comeback wasn’t luck.
It wasn’t the coach suddenly being easier.
It wasn’t a fluke.
It was trained mental strength.
Here is what her story shows every athlete:
- Failure does not define you
- Nerves can be managed
- Confidence can be rebuilt
- Setbacks can launch comebacks
- You are capable of more than you think
And here is what it proves to every mom:
You can help your daughter feel confident again.
You just need the right tools.
If Kate’s story felt familiar or gave you hope, this is your sign.
Grab the free training and start supporting your daughter in a way she will actually hear, love, and respond to.
Your daughter is capable.
She is strong.
She is talented.
She just needs the tools to believe it.
And you deserve the support to guide her.
Episode Highlights:
[00:00:00] Coach Saylor kicks off the episode and introduces the very first “Athlete of the Month,” which is a new series spotlighting real girl-athletes who have transformed through the Elite Mental Game.
[00:00:20] Meet Kate, a field hockey athlete who was on the verge of quitting after repeated setbacks and self-doubt—but made an unbelievable comeback through mental training.
[00:00:47] Hear how Kate’s eighth-grade JV tryouts spiraled into nerves, mistakes, and crushing disappointment… and how that moment pushed her to the mental breaking point.
[00:01:20] Kate opens up about feeling “not good enough,” being told no over and over, and wondering if all her hard work was pointless—an experience many athletes quietly battle.
[00:01:43] This episode becomes a must-listen for any girl who feels stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure how to move forward in her sport.
[00:02:19] Kate introduces herself and shares her powerful story of fumbling tryouts, beating herself up after every mistake, and the heartbreak of not making JV.
[00:03:00] She reveals the moment she questioned everything, considered quitting, and how mentally defeated she felt—until her mom signed her up for the Elite Mental Game.
[00:03:20] Kate explains how bounce-back routines, positive self-talk, and visualization helped her rebuild her confidence and finally believe in her ability.
[00:03:40] The big comeback: Kate uses her new mental skills at tryouts… and ends up making varsity as a freshman. 🤯 A defining moment that proved how far she had come.
[00:04:04] Coach Saylor reacts with chills (same, girl ✨) and celebrates Kate’s growth, grit, and ability to manage nerves so she can play at her true level.
[00:04:49] Kate is now chasing new goals in club season with a stronger mindset—and a deeper love for her sport.
[00:05:14] Coach Saylor wraps up with a message to all athletes: doubts, nerves, and low moments are normal. What matters is having the tools to rise from them.
[00:05:41] Kate is crowned Athlete of the Month, and listeners get a sneak peek that a new athlete story will drop next month.
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
Thank you in advance for joining us on our mission and leaving a rating and review on Apple Podcasts.
