Raising Elite Competitors

Stressed thinking about scholarships, applications, and college costs? You’re not alone. Shellee Howard shares simple, practical advice that actually makes this process feel doable. In this episode, you’ll hear about: How to set your athlete up for success academically and financially. Practical strategies for aiming for a debt-free education. Tips for athletes at every stage, from just starting h...

How do you get your daughter to actually want to work on her mental game… without the sighs, eye rolls, or “Mom, stop”? This episode is packed with strategies to help you bring up mental training in a way that doesn’t feel pushy, awkward, or like something’s “wrong” with her. Instead, you’ll learn how to spark curiosity, connect it to her goals, and make it fun. Here’s what you’ll hear inside:  Wh...

Your coach just said your athlete needs to "be more mentally tough." But what does that even MEAN, and how are you supposed to make it happen? If you're wondering if your athlete is ready for mental training or if you should wait until she's "struggling," this episode is for you. Here, I break down the three clear signs that your athlete is ready to build a powerful m...

Have you ever felt like you’re lagging behind, struggling to keep up with your teammates, or crushed by negative vibes from others? Or maybe you’re coming back from an injury and wondering if you’ll ever be your old self again. This episode is for all of you who need some no-fluff, real advice to boost your confidence, handle pressure, and keep your head in the game. In this episode, we discuss th...

Does your daughter ever come home from a game second-guessing herself… or even in tears after a tough play? Wish you had a game plan for helping her bounce back stronger and actually love the sport again—even when things don’t go perfectly? This episode is the boost every sports parent needs, packed with honest stories, hands-on tips, and the real talk that rarely makes it onto the sidelines. In t...

Is your athlete gearing up for tryouts… and you’re secretly more stressed than she is? You’re not alone. Tryout week can bring all the nerves, for athletes and their moms. But how do you actually support her without adding pressure, overstepping, or spiraling right alongside her? In this episode, we’re breaking down exactly how to prepare your athlete (and yourself) for tryouts – mentally, emotion...

Tryouts don’t have to be overwhelming or nerve-wracking. Whether you're months out or walking in tomorrow, having a plan makes all the difference. In this episode, we break down exactly how to get ready, both physically and mentally, so you can show up confident, calm, and ready to shine. Here’s what we cover: ✅ The real purpose of tryouts (and why that should ease the pressure). ✅ How to l...

If you’ve ever told your athlete to “suck it up”… this one’s for you. In this final episode of the Summer Confidence Series, we’re calling out one of the most popular pieces of advice in sports culture and why it’s not working. Mental toughness sounds good on the surface, but it often teaches athletes to shove emotions down and disconnect from what they actually need. Here’s the truth: ignoring em...

Does your daughter spiral into negative self-talk and no amount of encouragement seems to help? You’re not alone. And more importantly, it’s not your fault. If you’ve ever watched your daughter beat herself up after a mistake, compare herself to teammates, or shut down when you try to help… this episode is for you. There’s a better way to support her and it starts with this simple mental tool that...

Watching your daughter beat herself up after a mistake is heartbreaking. You know she’s capable of more, but that one play…that one error…sends her into a spiral. In this episode, I’m walking you through the exact skill your daughter needs so she can bounce back faster ; not just for her confidence, but for her performance. This is one of the first tools we teach inside The Elite Mental Game for a...

Think you’re doing all the right things to build your daughter’s confidence… but something still feels off? In this first episode of our 4-part Summer Confidence Series , I’m pulling back the curtain on the unintentional things we as parents say or do that can quietly chip away at our athlete’s confidence. No judgment; just real talk and simple shifts that make a big difference. If you’ve ever sai...

What happens when the sport you love starts to hurt you? For many athletes, quitting isn’t just about giving up; it’s about choosing your wellbeing over the game. In this episode, Greer, a former Purdue University collegiate cheerleader, shares her raw and honest journey from excitement and confidence to frustration and tough decisions. What happens when coaching changes turn a dream team into a t...

You’re standing on the sidelines, watching your daughter trudge off the field after a tough loss or a rough game. Her body language screams frustration, and your stomach knots up. Here comes that awful car ride home. You want to help, but every attempt seems to make things worse. Sound familiar? In this episode, I’m sharing my LOVE Framework: the exact system I teach parents in our Elite Mental Ga...

Trying to make varsity next season? Want coaches to actually notice you this summer? In this episode, I’m breaking down what high-performing athletes are really doing in the off-season to level up, based on what I’ve seen work as a 4x state championship coach. And no, it’s not just about showing up to practice. Hint: it’s more than just showing up to practice. We’re breaking down 4 simple but powe...

🚨 Think the hardest part of youth sports is the competition? Think again. The real challenge? The sideline chatter. The eye rolls. The “why is my kid on the bench?” mutters. That toxic energy that makes you dread game days more than your athlete does. If you’ve ever: felt your blood boil over sideline gossip, worried how negativity affects your young athlete, or wished you had the perfect comebac...

“Why is my daughter starving an hour after practice?” “How do I teach her to cook when we’re always rushing to games?” “What should she actually be eating to perform her best?” If these questions sound familiar, you’re in the right place. This episode is your game plan for turning food from an afterthought into your athlete’s secret weapon, while teaching her life skills that go way beyond the kit...

Are you feeling the pressure to have your daughter specialize in one sport or position too early? You’re not alone. In this powerful episode, I sit down with Carrie Dever Boaz – a D1 softball coach, sports parenting expert, and leader at Extra Inning Softball – to unpack the truth about early specialization and how to navigate it without sacrificing your child’s love for the game. What You’ll Lear...

Athletes, does your brain ever hijack you with “What if I choke?” or “What if I let everyone down?” before a big moment? This episode is your playbook to crush those mental spirals and unlock your confidence. Let’s GO. What’s Covered ✅ Why your brain LOVES negativity (and how to rewire it). ✅ The #1 exercise to flip fear into fuel (spoiler: all you need is a pen!). ✅ Why worst-case scenarios ar...

Mental blocks are frustrating, for both you and your athlete. She has the skill. She’s done it before. But now? She’s hesitating, freezing, or shutting down. If you’ve ever thought, “Just do it!” but your daughter can’t seem to push past it, this episode is for you. I’m breaking down what’s really happening in her brain, and sharing 3 tools you can use today to help her move forward.  Here’s what...

Does your partner think mindset work is “extra” or “unnecessary”? You’re all in. You see how much confidence coaching helps your daughter and you’re ready to invest in her growth. But your partner? Not so sure. Maybe they think she’s too young. Maybe they see it as just another expense. Maybe they just don’t get it. In this episode, I’m walking you through how to handle it when your partner’s not...

🚨 Stop repeating last season’s struggles. Summer isn’t just for camps and tan lines – it’s the #1 secret weapon to transform your athlete’s mindset. Learn how to turn her offseason into a confidence-building machine so she dominates next season. 🔥 What’s Covered: ✅ Why summer beats mid-season training. Build skills without pressure so mistakes don’t wreck her confidence. ✅ The 4 game-changing...

Hey athletes, have you ever walked off the field/court after playing a “should-be-easy” game feeling frustrated with YOURSELF? You didn’t lose... but you didn’t play like YOU either. This episode is your wake-up call. I’m breaking down: ✅ The #1 mistake athletes make (that turns you into a “rollercoaster player”) ✅ How to set UNBREAKABLE standards (so you dominate EVERY game) ✅ Why the scoreboa...

🚨 STOP saying the wrong thing before games! I see it every season: well-meaning parents accidentally saying all the wrong things before games. That nervous athlete? The irritable one who snaps when you try to help? She’s not being difficult, she’s just overwhelmed. And your words could be making it worse. In this episode, I’m giving you: ✅ The 5 phrases I use with my elite athletes to calm nerve...

What if the secret to your daughter’s confidence isn’t more practice… but a mental game shift? Two sports moms (one with a 9-year-old gymnast, another with a 12-year-old softball catcher) spill exactly how they transformed meltdowns into comebacks and rebuilt their own parenting playbooks along the way. 🔥 You’ll Learn: The car ride trick that got a resistant 9-year-old to say “Yes!” to mental tra...

🚨 Attention Sports Moms! 🚨 Is your daughter beating herself up over mistakes, doubting herself before she even steps on the field, or spiraling after one bad play? It’s time to stop the mental meltdowns and start building unshakable confidence. In this episode, we’re breaking down the 3 game-changing skills every girl athlete needs to become mentally strong, resilient, and ready to dominate – bo...