Building Confidence in Young Athletes

Christie Pearce Rampone, a two-time Women's World Cup champion, three-time Olympic gold medalist, and former captain of the US Women’s National Soccer Team teams up with sports neuropsychologist and brain health expert Dr. Kristine Keane to provide tips to sports parents. In this podcast episode, the pair, authors of “Be All In: Raising Kids for Success in Sports and Life,” address topics that include alleviating youth sports pressures, dealing with perfectionists, helping kids learn from mistakes and why to avoid specialization.

Brian Levenson, a mental performance coach and author of "Shift Your Mind," describes helpful mindsets in youth sports, including "uncomfortable in preparation, comfortable in performance" and "selfish in preparation, selfless in performance." His aim is to help athletes, teams and organizations unlock their potential by understanding and embracing these mindsets. The key is to focus on "strong skills," including communication, resilience and teamwork, he says.

Brian Levenson, a mental performance coach and author of "Shift Your Mind," describes helpful mindsets in youth sports, including "uncomfortable in preparation, comfortable in performance" and "selfish in preparation, selfless in performance." His aim is to help athletes, teams and organizations unlock their potential by understanding and embracing these mindsets. The key is to focus on "strong skills," including communication, resilience and teamwork, he says.

Uncomfortable in Practice, Comfortable Competing

Adelaide Goodeve began coaching athletes of all ages in a very roundabout way. When she was struggling with chronic fatigue syndrome, she learned how to retrain her brain, and in doing so, became a triathlete. Now Adelaide helps pro and amateur athletes cut minutes off their time by finding performance solutions using mindset strategies & neuro performance technology. With sports kids, she focuses on using visualization and other strategies to improve their confidence.

How Visualization Helps Boost Sports Kids' Confidence

Adelaide Goodeve began coaching athletes of all ages in a very roundabout way. When she was struggling with chronic fatigue syndrome, she learned how to retrain her brain, and in doing so, became a triathlete. Now Adelaide helps pro and amateur athletes cut minutes off their time by finding performance solutions using mindset strategies & neuro performance technology. With sports kids, she focuses on using visualization and other strategies to improve their confidence.

Amy Bass, author of "One Goal: A Coach, a Team and the Game That Brought a Divided Town Together,” relates how refugees from Somalia brought soccer to the town of Lewiston, Maine and changed it in remarkable ways. The soccer coach listened to the refugee community and showed empathy to make this transition happen, says Bass, a professor of sport studies at Manhattanville College. She touches on the importance of athletes serving as role models in troubling times.

How These Somali Soccer Players & Their Coach Created Community

Amy Bass, author of "One Goal: A Coach, a Team and the Game That Brought a Divided Town Together,” relates how refugees from Somalia brought soccer to the town of Lewiston, Maine and changed it in remarkable ways. The soccer coach listened to the refugee community and showed empathy to make this transition happen, says Bass, a professor of sport studies at Manhattanville College. She touches on the importance of athletes serving as role models in troubling times.

How can parents and coaches help girls bullied in sports? Ultimate Sports Parent Radio interviews Aureen Monteiro, author of the upcoming book "Rise Higher," which aims to empower women to overcome challenges and achieve their dreams. She gives tips for helping girls who are bullied, based in part on experience helping her daughter who plays sports in India.

Helping Girls Bullied in Sports

How can parents and coaches help girls bullied in sports? Ultimate Sports Parent Radio interviews Aureen Monteiro, author of the upcoming book "Rise Higher," which aims to empower women to overcome challenges and achieve their dreams. She gives tips for helping girls who are bullied, based in part on experience helping her daughter who plays sports in India.

Ultimate Sports Parent Radio talks with Jeremy Bhandari, the 23-year-old author of "Trust The Grind," a new book about how world-class athletes got to the top. A former researcher for ESPN, Bhandari reveals what he discovered interviewing sixteen athletes and how his book applies to young athletes.

How World-Class Athletes Succeed