Raising Elite Competitors

Comparison at tryouts is costing her more than she realizes. What's Your Competitor Style Quiz → https://athlete.fyi/yt-quiz

📌 Resources & Tools:
🎓 Strengthen Your Athlete's Mental Game - Free Training for Parents → https://trainhergame.com/mom
📬 Join our weekly TIPS newsletter → https://sportsmom.fyi/yt-tips
💬 Use this Conversation Guide w/ Scripts to talk to your athlete about mental training → https://sportsmom.fyi/convo-guide
🎙 Listen to the Podcast: Raising Elite Competitors
FREE for Athletes:🔹 Share with your athlete: What's Your Competitor Style Quiz → https://athlete.fyi/yt-quiz
🎥 YouTube Playlist for Athletes → https://www.youtube.com/@AthleteMentalEdge

OUR SIGNATURE PROGRAMS:
👉 Join The Elite Mental Game for girl athletes → https://trainhergame.com/yt-emg

Connect with us!
IG: ➡︎ https://www.instagram.com/elitecompetitorcoach
Tik Tok: ➡︎ https://www.tiktok.com/@raisingelitecompetitors
YouTube: ➡︎ SUBSCRIBE 🙌🏼 and hang out in our community here with us!

⏰ Key Timestamps:
00:00 Intro: My Best & Worst Tryouts
00:49 Why Tryouts Are a Mental Game
02:00 How Nerves Derail Your Performance
03:24 Tip #1: Reframe What Tryouts Are
05:49 Tip #2: Use Visualization
08:44 Tip #3: Focus On Your Strengths
11:11 Recap of the Three Tips
11:53 Closing & Call to Action

👋🏼 I'm Coach Bre — a mental performance coach for girl athletes, Co-Founder of The Elite Competitor, and a former head volleyball coach and 4-time state champion. 

This episode features Coach Saylor, one of our mental performance coaches inside The Elite Mental Game, teaching athletes three mental training tips for tryouts. 

In this video, Coach Saylor breaks down why comparison is one of the biggest confidence killers at tryouts, and gives your athlete three specific mental training tips to walk in ready instead. This one's built to be shared directly with her. If tryouts are coming up for your daughter, this gives her something real to lean on beyond just physical prep.

What You'll Learn:
✅ Why tryouts should be reframed as a showcase, not a test
✅ A visualization technique that uses a real past best moment, not an imagined perfect one
✅ How to name three personal strengths as anchors against the comparison spiral
✅ Why comparison rarely works in her favor, and what to focus on instead
✅ Where to find her free Competitor Style Quiz for a mental edge going into tryouts

💬 What's one strength you bring to your sport that you might not give yourself credit for?

P.S. A few stats worth knowing:
⚡️Reframing pre-performance anxiety as excitement improves confidence and performance (Brooks, Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 2014)
⚡️A 2025 study of 500 athletes found imagery ability is directly linked to athletic achievement level (Malinauskas et al., Frontiers in Psychology, 2025)
⚡️A meta-analysis of 32 studies found self-talk interventions produce a real, measurable improvement in sport performance (Hatzigeorgiadis et al., Perspectives on Psychological Science, 2011)

The Raising Elite Competitors podcast and YouTube channel is hosted by The Elite Competitor and is dedicated to helping sports moms strengthen their daughter's mental game and confidence in order to help her perform her best when it matters most.

#tryoutprep #sportsmom #mentalperformance #girlssports #elitementalgame
Register for the Summer Strong Mental Game Bootcamp! We kick-off June 24th (registration closes June 19th). The earlier you register, the better price you get! https://elitecompetitor.com/summer-strong-bootcamp/

"We're strong, and we're only delicate if you tell us that we're delicate." 🎯 → https://trainhergame.com/mom

***Resources***
🙌 What's Your Competitor Style Quiz (to send your athlete!): https://www.videoask.com/fnbmhduxy
💜 Conversation Guide w/ Scripts to Bring Up Mental Training: https://s3.amazonaws.com/kajabi-storefronts-production/file-uploads/sites/144031/downloads/66e16c-6886-4a62-b8db-c43a1ae18fbd_The_Elite_Mental_Game_Conversation_Starter.pdf%20
📺 YouTube Playlist for Athletes: https://www.youtube.com/@AthleteMentalEdge
🎓 The Elite Mental Game (our self-paced mental training program): https://elitecompetitor.com/emg
🔥 Grab our in-depth free training → https://trainhergame.com/mom

***Connect with Me***
📩 Want to connect? Email us at hello@elitecompetitor.com
🔹 Follow us on TikTok→ @raisingelitecompetitors
📲 Instagram: @elitecompetitorcoach

🔔 Subscribe for weekly mental training strategies built specifically for parents of girl athletes.

In this episode, I sat down with Sumer Dandan, a competitive cheer gym owner and child development professional with almost 30 years of experience. 

She said something that's stuck with me since we recorded this. Girls in sports get treated like they're fragile, when the truth is the opposite. They're strong. They're determined. And most of them have never been given the tools to prove it to themselves. 

👋🏼 I'm Coach Bre, a mental performance coach for girl athletes, Co-Founder of The Elite Competitor, and a former head volleyball coach and 4-time state champion.

What You'll Learn:
✅ Why the "delicate girl" narrative is holding athletes back 
✅ The real difference between a fixed and growth mindset 
✅ What actually helps her handle pressure instead of freezing under it 
✅ Why some kids stay in sport for decades and become leaders, and others quit young

🎙️ My guest, Sumer, owns a nationally recognized all-star cheerleading gym, Intensity Athletics. She's watched what happens when talented athletes get stuck, and what actually helps them move forward.

🕓 Key Moments
00:00 Meet Sumer
00:51 Sumer's World Today
01:37 Shifting Coaching Culture
04:05 Sumer's Athletic Journey
05:25 What Is All-Star Cheerleading?
06:51 Growing Up Without Guidance
08:24 The Mental Game and the Parent's Role
13:35 Sumer's Own Mental Block Journey
16:12 From Athlete to Entrepreneur
21:51 Advice for Parents and Closing Thoughts

💬 Moms — comment below: What's one thing you say after a tough practice that you secretly wonder if it's helping or hurting?

P.S. A few stats worth knowing:
⚡️ 45% of teenage girls drop out of sports over body confidence concerns, twice the rate of boys the same age (Nike/Dove research via Well+Good, 2023)
⚡️ Girls have 1.3 million fewer opportunities to play high school sports than boys (Women's Sports Foundation)
⚡️ Students with a growth mindset from the lowest income bracket performed academically as well as fixed mindset students from the 80th income percentile (Dweck research via TrainingPeaks, 2024)

The Raising Elite Competitors YouTube channel is hosted by The Elite Competitor and is dedicated to helping sports moms strengthen their daughter's mental game and confidence in order to help her perform her best when it matters most.

#mentalperformance #girlathlete #sportsparenting #growthmindset #cheerparent
Register for the Summer Strong Mental Game Bootcamp! We kick-off June 24th (registration closes June 19th). The earlier you register, the better price you get! https://elitecompetitor.com/summer-strong-bootcamp/

Your daughter doesn't need more pep talks. She needs 60 seconds and a closed door. Here's what actually works. Grab more tools here → https://trainhergame.com/mom

If you're a coach, head to https://coachfreetraining.com to learn more about Plug & Play Elite Mental Game for teams! Also checkout out the Coach Her Game Channel for more tips.

There's a simple mental skill that takes less than a minute and actually changes how your daughter performs under pressure. It's backed by real science, not just good intentions.

What You'll Learn:
✅ Why mental rehearsal works (and the brain science behind it)
✅ Three specific moments to use this tool with your daughter
✅ A simple way to help her release pre-game anxiety

👋🏼 I'm Coach Bre — a mental performance coach for girl athletes, Co-Founder of The Elite Competitor, and a former head volleyball coach and 4-time state champion.

🕓 Key Moments: 
00:00 Introduction
00:59 Why Visualization Works (The Science)
01:56 Way #1: Visualization Before Practice
02:20 The 3-2-1 Brave Mindset Routine
04:45 Way #2: Visualization Before Games
05:42 Way #3: Situational Visualization
07:37 Wrap-Up & Resources

⬇️ New here? Start with the free training for sports moms: https://trainhergame.com/mom

💛 Already inside The Elite Mental Game? Head to members.elitecompetitor.com for your next steps.

📩 Want to connect? Email us at hello@elitecompetitor.com

📌 Resources & Tools
🙌 What's Your Competitor Style Quiz (to send your athlete!): https://www.videoask.com/fnbmhduxy
💜 Conversation Guide w/ Scripts to Bring Up Mental Training: https://s3.amazonaws.com/kajabi-storefronts-production/file-uploads/sites/144031/downloads/66e16c-6886-4a62-b8db-c43a1ae18fbd_The_Elite_Mental_Game_Conversation_Starter.pdf%20
📺 YouTube Playlist for Athletes: https://www.youtube.com/@AthleteMentalEdge
🎓 The Elite Mental Game (our self-paced mental training program): https://elitecompetitor.com/emg

🔔Subscribe for more mental training tips for girl athletes ⬇️  Raising Elite Competitors YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RaisingEliteCompetitors       

P.S. A few things worth knowing:   
⚡️Mental rehearsal alone can increase muscle strength by up to 35% (Cleveland Clinic)
⚡️ Motor imagery activates overlapping brain regions with actual physical movement (Neuropsychologia)
⚡️Athletes who regularly use visualization report higher self-confidence and lower competition anxiety (Journal of Applied Sport Psychology) 

The Raising Elite Competitors channel is hosted by The Elite Competitor and is dedicated to helping sports moms strengthen their daughter's mental game and confidence in order to help her perform her best when it matters most.     

#mentalperformance #girlathlete #sportsparenting #visualization #athleteconfidence
Register for the Summer Strong Mental Game Bootcamp! We kick-off June 24th (registration closes June 19th). The earlier you register, the better price you get! https://elitecompetitor.com/summer-strong-bootcamp/

💛 One athlete. A new position. A mindset shift that led to 19 points and four threes. Get the free training for sports moms → https://trainhergame.com/mom

Kinley started EMG convinced she couldn't afford to make a mistake. Every error felt like proof she wasn't good enough.

Then something clicked.

🎙️ In this episode, Coach Saylor sits down with Kinley Sander, our May Athlete of the Month and an incoming freshman basketball player, who shares how mental training helped her stop hesitating and start trusting herself in a brand new position.

What You'll Learn:
✅ Why "I can't mess up" is the mindset that's actually holding your daughter back
✅ How the Snapback Routine works in real game moments (from an athlete who uses it)
✅ The grounding strategy that pulls athletes back to the present when they're spiraling
✅ What one mindset shift unlocked Kinley's best game ever
✅ Why going back to "just have fun" is a performance strategy, not a cop-out

🕓 Key Moments:
00:00 Welcome & Introduction
00:21 Kinley's Basketball Journey
00:54 Recognizing Kinley's Work Ethic
01:45 Champions Board Submission
02:08 Mindset Before & After EMG
03:03 Mental Tools & Strategies
04:43 Breakthrough Game Story
07:41 Goals & Advice for Athletes

Athlete of the month episodes are hosted by REC Coach Saylor, a mental performance coach for girl athletes. I empower girl athletes with tools to build confidence and manage pressure so they can compete freely and passionately. New AOTM episodes every month!

📌 Free Tools & Next Steps
🙌 What's Your Competitor Style Quiz (to send your athlete!): https://www.videoask.com/fnbmhduxy
💜 Conversation Guide w/ Scripts to Bring Up Mental Training: https://s3.amazonaws.com/kajabi-storefronts-production/file-uploads/sites/144031/downloads/66e16c-6886-4a62-b8db-c43a1ae18fbd_The_Elite_Mental_Game_Conversation_Starter.pdf%20
🎯 FREE Training for Sports Moms: https://trainhergame.com/mom
📺 YouTube Playlist for Athletes: https://www.youtube.com/@AthleteMentalEdge
🎓 The Elite Mental Game (our self-paced mental training program): https://elitecompetitor.com/emg 

🔔 Subscribe for more mental training tips for girl athletes. Raising Elite Competitors YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RaisingEliteCompetitors

P.S. A few stats worth saving if you've ever wondered whether the mental game really matters that much:
👉70% of youth athletes quit organized sports by age 13, with loss of enjoyment tied to pressure and confidence challenges (Aspen Institute, Project Play)
👉Girls are significantly more likely than boys to internalize mistakes and experience decreased confidence after errors during competition (Tucker Center for Research on Girls and Women in Sport, University of Minnesota)
👉Athletes who use consistent pre-performance routines outperform those who don't in high-pressure situations (Journal of Applied Sport Psychology)

The Raising Elite Competitors YouTube channel is hosted by The Elite Competitor and is dedicated to helping sports moms strengthen their daughter's mental game and confidence in order to help her perform her best when it matters most.  

#mentalperformance #girlathlete #sportsparenting #athleteofthemonth
Register for the Summer Strong Mental Game Bootcamp! We kick-off June 24th (registration closes June 19th). The earlier you register, the better price you get! https://elitecompetitor.com/summer-strong-bootcamp/

🏆 The 3 mental skills that separate good athletes from great ones - and how to help your daughter build them this summer. Free training for moms → https://trainhergame.com/mom

Your daughter has been putting in the physical work this summer. But there's one thing most athletes skip completely - and it's exactly what shows up (or doesn't) when tryouts get intense.

👋🏼 I'm Coach Bre - a mental performance coach for girl athletes, Co-Founder of The Elite Competitor, and a former head volleyball coach and 4-time state champion.

In this episode, I'm breaking down what the best girl athletes are doing differently right now, and what you can do as her mom to make sure she walks into her next season ready - not just physically, but mentally.

✅ Why summer is the best time to train the mental game (before the pressure is real)
✅ The Snapback Routine - a 2-second failure recovery system that changed everything for my state championship team
✅ How to build a pre-performance routine that helps her stay consistent under pressure
✅ Why her belief about herself sets the ceiling - and how to help her raise it
✅ Three specific things YOU can do this summer that will change how she shows up in the fall

🕓 Key Moments:
00:00 The Problem: Mental Spiraling Before Tryouts
04:05 Why Mental Training Is Missing from Summer Plans
04:14 Skill #1: Training the Mental Game
06:22 The Snapback Routine in Action: State Championship Story
11:31 Skill #2: Building a Pre-Performance Routine
13:19 Skill #3: Building Your Identity Before the Season
16:12 What the Best Sports Parents Do This Summer
20:10 Wrap-Up and Next Steps

⬇️ New here? Start with the free training for sports moms: https://trainhergame.com/mom

💛 Already inside The Elite Mental Game? Head to members.elitecompetitor.com for your next steps.

📩 Want to connect? Email us at hello@elitecompetitor.com

📌 Resources & Tools
🙌 What's Your Competitor Style Quiz (to send your athlete!): https://www.videoask.com/fnbmhduxy
💜 Conversation Guide w/ Scripts to Bring Up Mental Training: https://s3.amazonaws.com/kajabi-storefronts-production/file-uploads/sites/144031/downloads/66e16c-6886-4a62-b8db-c43a1ae18fbd_The_Elite_Mental_Game_Conversation_Starter.pdf%20
📺 YouTube Playlist for Athletes: https://www.youtube.com/@AthleteMentalEdge
🎓 The Elite Mental Game (our self-paced mental training program): https://elitecompetitor.com/emg

🔔Subscribe for more mental training tips for girl athletes ⬇️  Raising Elite Competitors YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RaisingEliteCompetitors     

P.S. A few things worth knowing:  
⚡️Athletes who use mental skills training show measurably better performance consistency under pressure, particularly in high-stakes competition moments. (Association for Applied Sport Psychology)
⚡️ Visualization activates the same neural pathways as physical practice, giving athletes measurable performance gains without additional physical training load. (University of Chicago, Blaslotto research on visualization and performance)
⚡️Only 9% of high school athletes go on to play college sports. The mental game is often what determines who breaks through. (NCAA Research)

The Raising Elite Competitors channel is hosted by The Elite Competitor and is dedicated to helping sports moms strengthen their daughter's mental game and confidence in order to help her perform her best when it matters most.          

#girlssports #mentalperformance #sportsparenting #girlathlete #youthsports
Register for the Summer Strong Mental Game Bootcamp! We kick-off June 24th (registration closes June 19th). The earlier you register, the better price you get! https://elitecompetitor.com/summer-strong-bootcamp/