Ever feel like the second you bring up mental training, your daughter shuts down? You start to say something and she already knows where you’re going, so she tunes out or rolls her eyes. You’re not trying to make her feel like something’s wrong, but you do want her to realize how much working on her mindset could help her game.

How do you know if your athlete is ready for mental training? And maybe even more important, when’s the best time to start?

Ever sat in the bleachers or the car pickup line, wondering how to help your daughter shake off a tough game and truly believe in herself again? If so, you’re in the right place. This isn’t just another list of sports pep talks or motivational quotes. These are tried-and-true strategies, straight from sports moms who’ve watched their athletes deal with nerves, tough coaches, self-doubt, and those make-or-break moments that happen on every field or court.

It’s that time again: tryout season. The week when moms probably lose more sleep than their athletes do. And honestly? It makes sense. Tryouts are stressful for everyone: athletes, coaches, and yes, parents too.

Let’s go ahead and say it: the old-school “suck it up” mindset isn’t doing your athlete any favors. In fact, it might be doing the opposite.

This episode wraps up our 4-part Summer Confidence Series by addressing something that shows up all over youth sports, often without question: the idea that mental toughness is everything. But what if that approach is actually setting your daughter back?

Let’s break it down, step by step. No fluff. Just real talk.

You see it all the time.

Your daughter walks off the field with slumped shoulders. She’s quiet in the car ride home, maybe frustrated tears in her eyes. You try to encourage her, “You did great!”, but she shrugs it off or snaps, “You don’t get it, Mom.”

Mistakes are part of every athlete’s experience, whether your daughter is just starting out in sports or she’s been competing for years. The way she handles those mistakes, though? That can make all the difference in how much she enjoys the game, how well she plays, and how confident she feels, both on and off the field.

If you’re reading this, I already know something about you: You deeply care about your daughter; not just how she performs in her sport, but how she feels about herself while she’s doing it.