Sports Moms United Podcast

You're listening to the Sports Moms United 15 minute huddle: Episode #52 How important is it for your athlete to learn how to train their brain? Is it actually the most important skill? Listen in as I talk with Austin Byler (who played for the Arizona Diamondbacks) as he shares his experience. Austin gives us some mental training tips and tools that you and your athlete can use to get started training your brain today! Austin and I discuss... His mission for Major League University and what "Rewrite Your Destiny" means for an athlete. When he started taking mental training seriously and why he didn't own it earlier in his journey. When an athlete is injured, why mental skills are so important. His best advice for athletes and parents as they help their athletes navigate their own sports journey. Where you can find Austin and Major League University.

We could all use a little more laughter right now...like deep belly laughs. So buckle up and get ready for this huddle because I'm chatting with a sports mom who will make you laugh and drop some wisdom as well. Brandalyn is a humorist and softball mom with a big heart and the spiritual gift of humor. Here is her recent rant and our conversation that follows. We chat (and laugh) about all these things... Tell us who you are, what you do, and why you do it? Let's have some fun and find out more about you as a sports mama... Her softball mom rant where you share some discoveries about the softball world, tell us about your experience as a softball mom? What advice/tips would you give our sports moms/parents as they help their athletes navigate their own sports journey? Bio: Brandalyn Shropshire is a humorist, writer, and actress. Making people laugh has always been Brandalyn’s passion and she has found much success with her alter egos “Shrop the Cop” and “Ms. Pointsetta”. She believes the number one “violation”

When sports shut down, we all had some downtime to refresh, but quickly we missed seeing our kids compete. Chet Arnold, the author of Bean and Baseball in Time Flies, reminds us to enjoy the journey and embrace the ups and downs. We talk about some really important ways parents can develop a positive perspective as they navigate life with their athlete. Chet and I discuss... Bean and Baseball is a book about baseball and how quickly Time Flies from the first practice to High School Graduation and the milestones in between. Tell us about why you wrote Bean and Baseball? How has baseball created a bond btw you and your son? What advice/tips would you give our sports moms/parents as they help their athletes navigate their own sports journey?   BIO Meet Chet A. Arnold I am an Army infantry Veteran, a product of Sand Hill from July 1989 through July 31, of 1992, 4/30th Infantry. Ft. Benning, Georgia, is where I grew up and put earlier lessons taught haven been raised in East Texas. Growing up in East Texas durin

Your kiddo comes home from practice complaining about a sore, maybe sprained, ankle. It's kinda swollen, but nothing major. What do you do next? You just need a quick answer. Don't google it. You have another choice...help from an athletic trainer. Listen in to learn more from my conversation with certified athlete Michelle Cordero. Michelle and I talk about... What is your main goal for Athlete Remedy? Why is it so important to have a resource like Athlete Remedy? What gaps are you filling for parents and their athletes? What advice/tips would you give our sports moms/parents as they help their athletes navigate their own sports journey from your perspective?   ABOUT MICHELLE I know that a lot of the information out there can be daunting and even intimidating (especially when you’re simply trying to get a quick answer about something as simple as ‘how long should I apply ice when I sprain my ankle?’) and so it is my goal to provide you with information that you can not only UNDERSTAND, but also DO so you c

Get ready..this is a powerful 15-minute huddle with practical wisdom for you and your family. Who you are, what you do, and why you do it. The Coach's Diary and how it started? How much influence do you think the parent's EXAMPLE (versus just talking) has on their athlete? We talk about this... WISDOM is doing NOW what you will be happy with later. STAY READY and STAY PREPARED so that you don’t have to rush to get ready. Don’t be lazy. Don’t be complacent. Don’t be passive. Don’t be inactive. Don’t be a procrastinator. BE who you want to become. Have the HABITS and live the LIFESTYLE of who you want to be so that when your opportunities come, you are ready. You never know when you are going to get your big opportunity, so stay ready for it by the way that you live and your habits. What are some ways parents can encourage their athletes (and themselves) to stay ready....particularly mentally ready? What advice/tips would you give our sports moms/parents as they help their athletes navigate their own sports jo

Nelson Mandela said this "Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair.” As a sports mom and a former athlete, I believe he is right and the sports community, in this moment of crisis, can be a place where the work of changing begins, but only if we look straight into what needs to change, recognize it, and take action to move forward united together. In today's huddle, I talk with John Babb, who was a multi-sport athlete in high school, played football at Baker University where he earned his undergraduate degree. John went to earn his doctorate of physical therapy at Wichita State and is a physical therapist in Topeka, KS. John shares his experiences with us as we talk about sports and the future. CONTINUE THE HUDDLE  WE LOVE HEARING FROM YOU! If you have a question about today’s episode (or want to ask a question o

If your athlete was showing signs of energy imbalance, would they recognize it? Would you? This is an important topic because athletes who find their "sweet spot" and maintain an energy balance will have an edge, be less at risk for injury and set a foundation for a healthy life. In today huddle, I talk with Rebecca McConville about the topic of Relative Energy Deficit in Sport (or RED-S) We discuss how to be proactive and avoid RED-S so athletes stay in their sweet spot all season long. Rebecca and I discuss... who she is, what she does and why she does it and her book, Finding Your Sweet Spot: How to Avoid RED-S (Relative Energy Deficit in Sport) by Optimizing Your Energy Balance how her personal journey led to her profession as a sports dietitian, specializing in eating disorders. What is RED-S? Why is it important for you and your athlete to know about RED-S? When can an energy imbalance occur? What would cause it? What can we do recognize RED-S in our athletes and what can we do to address it? Why it's i

The topic of confidence always seems to surface when taking with other sports parents. How can my athlete be more confident...what about when my athlete loses confidence? But are we even asking the right questions or is there something else we should be asking? In today's huddle, I talk with Kathy Finesteen, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, and Sports Performance Consultant, about mental health and mental performance, both for our athlete and for ourselves. She gives us very practical ways to increase our own awareness and to help our athlete increase their awareness, too.   Kathy and I discuss... who she is, what she does and why she does it. how her daughter's sports performance anxiety (and the lack of resources available) sparked her interest in sport's psychology why self-reflection is the first place for us to start so we can be our best for our athlete. What is a fixed mindset vs a growth mindset? How should we praise our athlete? How do athletes develop confidence? What three questions are importan

WHAT YOU’LL HEAR IN TODAY’S 15-MINUTE HUDDLE: What does it really take to play at the next level? From youth sports to professional sports, every next step requires an athlete to grow and mature. In today's huddle, I talk with Austin McCarthy, who was just named Captain of the Topeka Pilots, a team in the Northern American Hockey League. Austin candidly shares with us his insights into his hockey life as he follows his dream to one day play in the NHL. Austin and I discuss... His journey from Michigan to Kansas to play hockey at the next level. How important his relationship with his sports mom has been in his hockey journey. Why playing for the love of the game has to be a priority to play at the next level. What has surprised him the most about moving to the next levels? What advice he would give to young athletes. Where his hockey skills are taking him (hint: Russia). How important is a pregame routine and how the team talks about the mental side of the game? How the energy/chemistry of the team matters. M

CONTINUE THE HUDDLE  WE LOVE HEARING FROM YOU! If you have a question about today’s episode (or want to ask a question of your own for the podcast), you can email me at beth@sportsmomsunited.com or head on over to the  Sports Moms United Facebook Community

Ever feel like the communication gap between a coach, you, and your athlete is the size of the Grand Canyon? It happens. Hey, we're emotional, complex humans, right? In today's huddle, I talk to Ian Goldberg who is a passionate sports dad, youth sports coach and Founder of iSport360.com. Ian created an APP to get parents & coaches communicating....talking and sharing information without emotional baggage, judgment, blame, and shame. Say what? Yep, we can do it. If you don't use this tool and you have a kid in sports who has a coach and you have to communicate with them.....turn the volume up and join us for solutions. Ian shares who he is and why he started his company and developed this App. Why there is a disconnect btw parents & coaches when communicating with the kids. Why creating an infrastructure for youth sports communication makes sense. How we can Take best practices from education and apply them to sports. How the APP works and why it brings everyone together on the same page. What type of

Do you know your athlete's triggers? What makes them anxious? Are you saying or doing things that actually hurt them when your intentions are to help? In today's huddle, I talk with Teisha Womack, who played college basketball at Seton Hall and then professionally in Poland. She went on to get her Master's in Sports Psychology and now works with athletes on improving their mental skills. This is a conversion you don't want to miss and you'll want to pass along to other sports mamas and their athletes. Teisha Womack and I discuss... Who she is, what she does and why she does. How her "nervous energy" as a teenager affected her as an athlete and how she even though she did well, she struggled with the anxiety. How her brain would shut down once she reached a level that was "unknown" to her. How we think becomes our behavior and can lead to physical injury. How important the mental skills game is and that most kids don't even know that it's a thing that can be "worked on" The concerns when an injury occurs and h

Nick and I discuss... Who he is, what he does and why he does it. Why he started The Reformed Sports Parent platform and when he realized he needed to change. How being vulnerable with his boys was a turning point. When he realized it was more about him than his kids he realized he needed to step back and make some changes. How he reached out to others to see if others were feeling like this and so many others were at very high levels. Why parents are feeling the pressure of the pay-to-play and what we can do What should parents focus on? Are sports parents chasing the wrong things in youth sports? Why facing our own heart-posture and setting our ego aside is the place to start with changing the youth sports culture. Why the number one place to start for a sports parent is "this is not about me". CONTINUE THE HUDDLE  WE LOVE HEARING FROM YOU!  If you have a question about today’s episode (or want to ask a question of your own for the podcast), you can email me at beth@sportsmomsunited.com or head on over to t

Can you feel it? The pressure is high. The fear of missing out is real, but what happens to your athlete when they specialize too early? In today's huddle, I talk with Brett Klika from SPIDERfit kids about the very real dangers of early sports specialization. Brett shares important insights with us from his extensive background working with youth athletes all the way to professional athletes. Stay with us for this one...it's information you'll need. Brett shares with us... Why he started the SPIDERfit Kids movement and how his experience with young athletes all the way to professional athletes shapes everything he does. How SPIDERfit Kids empowers coaches, parents, and educators with everything they need. Why working with kids is not just babysitting, it's so much more. The reality that organized sports is where our kids are being active and why it's important to understand this and what it means for youth sports. Who drives early sports specialization? What is sports specialization and why it causes problem

Does yelling at athletes prepare them well for the world after sports? Does it really" toughen them up"? Is this the best way to coach/parent? In today's huddle, I bring back J.P. Nerbun, a mentor, writer, coach, and sports consultant. who is, most importantly, I am a husband and father. We talk about what happens when we lead with love, both as a coach and parent, and some practical ways we can change the default response from yelling and screaming to setting high standards and leading with love. JP and I discuss... Are we asking the right questions about how we coach and parent? And what are those questions we should be asking ourselves? Why we shouldn't yell at our athletes and how it's not congruent with leadership in the real world. How our brains work and how we can help our kids/athletes to use their WHOLE brain. Why we want to "engage not enrage their brain" and how to activate connections that strengthen their whole brain. Connect first with your athlete and let them know you see them and understand

Did you know that food is more than just fuel for our athletes, it's information their body uses to perform and to stay injury free? So what happens when our athlete doesn't eat properly? In today's huddle, we talk with sports dietitian, Amy Dirks. Amy is a mom of 2 daughters playing sports and Amy herself was a D1 volleyball player at Arkansas State . She also was Sporting KC's first sports dietitian. Listen in for her great tips and tools! Amy tells us... About her food philosophy: Eat whole foods which means food that grows and dies. Why we are not meant to eat all the processed foods, artificial ingredients, and preservatives. Why food is not just fuel...it's information for our body. Why an athlete can't "out supplement" their diet. How all the information is confusing us and how to get back to real, whole food. Some ways sports moms can start small to make changes for the long-term. Why a plan is important, but how to start small so there is no overwhelm. Why we need to involve our kids in the kitchen a

Welcome to the Sports Moms 15 minute huddle Dr. Rob shares... Who he is, what he does, and why he does it. Why he holds sport and the vehicle of sport as sacred. What is the Hinge? We are always one moment or one person away from connecting who we are with who we are going to become. Why having a coach is so important. Rob shares his hinge moment during a triathlon and how it led to the question he asks "Would You Stop"? A better us is what makes a better you. It's not about being the best on the team it's about being the best for the team. What happens when we lose confidence? We isolate and then we stop serving others, connecting with others and we get in our own head way too much. The toughest person to coach is ourselves because we know ourselves so well. We have to allow others to coach us. When we get out of our own head, we help others and in turn help ourselves. Gratitude and perspective, even in the most difficult circumstances, is most important to great performance. How can we change the default fr

What if there were a proven Coaching & Sports-Parenting Philosophy that would help your student-athlete have more joy, passion, confidence, and success on and off the field? Would you want to hear about it? In today's huddle, I talk with Andrew Simpson from Player's Fitness and Performance about the love-powered leadership philosophy and it's growing movement in youth sports. Andrew Simpson shares... Who he is, what he does and why he does it. What is Love-Powered Leadership? What happens when athletes lead from love, coaches coach from love and parents parent from love? How John Wooden used the principle of leading with love (even though he didn't put the word LOVE in the success pyramid and regretted not using the word). Four Practical, Uncommon Ways to Increase Athlete's Performance How to improve the parent/athlete relationship with a 30 day "Not Say Anything Challenge" (starting in June). www.pfpfit.com/love-powered-leadership-movement       CONTINUE THE HUDDLE  WE LOVE HEARING FROM YOU!  I

Being a sports mom is awesome and challenging all at once. We often stress out and become overwhelmed because we are focusing on things that are completely out of our control. We choose fear over love. On today's episode, I talk with Stacie Mahoe, who is a sports mama of 8 about the power of love in the pursuit of excellence. This shift in focus can be a gamechanger for our athlete and for us!   CONTINUE THE HUDDLE  WE LOVE HEARING FROM YOU!  If you have a question about today’s episode (or want to ask a question of your own for the podcast), you can email me at beth@sportsmomsunited.com or head on over to the  Sports Moms United Facebook Community  

We buy our children all the best equipment for their sports but are we protecting their bodies in the right way if we just focus on external equipment. What about equipping their bodies to be injury free? On today's episode, I talk with Dr. Leslie De-ro-zure , who is IS A DOCTOR OF PHYSICAL THERAPY, a SPORTS INJURY PREVENTION EXPERT, AND BOARD CERTIFIED ORTHOPEDIC SPECIALIST. We talk about ACL injuries and how to be proactive to keep an athlete's ACL strong. CONTINUE THE HUDDLE  WE LOVE HEARING FROM YOU! If you have a question about today’s episode (or want to ask a question of your own for the podcast), you can email me at beth@sportsmomsunited.com or head on over to the  Sports Moms United Facebook Community