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 toxic environment? When does pushing through become too much? Greer’s story will challenge everything you think you know about quitting in sports.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• Growing up with anxiety and finding confidence through cheerleading
• The realities of college cheer recruiting and earning your spot
• How sudden coaching changes can shake a team to its core
• The difference between being an amazing athlete and an amazing coach
• Navigating toxic team dynamics and power struggles
• Taking a stand with Title IX and prioritizing mental health
• Why sometimes quitting is the bravest and healthiest choice

Ready to hear the full story and gain insights that every athlete and parent needs? Listen to the full episode now.

Episode Highlights:

[00:00] Standing at the Crossroads: To Quit or Not? Greer opens up about the difficult decision many athletes face: whether to keep going or walk away from a sport they love but that’s become challenging.

[04:15] Growing Up in Sports: Finding Confidence in Cheer. Greer shares how she balanced multiple sports growing up, ultimately finding her confidence and joy in cheerleading despite struggles with anxiety and perfectionism.

[09:30] Navigating College Cheer Recruiting. An inside look at how collegiate cheer recruiting works, including camps, tryouts, and how Purdue’s coaches saw potential in Greer even though she was still learning key skills.

[14:50] Freshman Year Highs: Support and Belonging. Greer describes the excitement of making the Purdue cheer team and feeling supported by coaches who believed in her potential.

[19:20] Freshman Year Lows: Coaching Changes and Team Turmoil. Just before tryouts, the original coaches left, and the new coaching staff struggled to lead, creating a toxic environment that fractured team dynamics.

[25:10] When Great Athletes Aren’t Great Coaches. Greer reflects on how the new coaches’ lack of experience and leadership skills negatively impacted the team culture and athlete wellbeing.

[30:45] Toxic Team Culture and Power Dynamics. Examples of how the new coaches pitted teammates against each other, dismissed academic priorities, and treated athletes disrespectfully.

[36:00] Taking a Stand: Speaking Up and Seeking Help. Greer recounts filing a Title IX complaint, seeking counseling, and advocating for herself despite the fear and uncertainty.

[41:30] Aftermath and Moving On. The problematic coaches were fired, but with ongoing instability, Greer made the difficult decision to quit cheer and focus on her mental health and academics.

[46:00] Lessons Learned: Prioritizing Wellbeing Over Sport. Greer’s final thoughts on the importance of respect, support, and knowing when walking away is the healthiest choice for an athlete’s future.

Next Steps:

• Join our FREE Training for Sports Moms - How to Strengthen Your Athlete Daughter's Mental Game so She Believes in Herself as Much as You Do
• Visit our podcast website for more great episodes

Thank you in advance for joining us on our mission and leaving a rating and review on Apple Podcasts.

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 Game program. These four simple steps will transform those tense post-game moments from stressful to supportive.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

🔥 Why your usual pep talks might be backfiring (and what to do instead).
🍦 The unexpected power of post-game rituals (hint: it’s not about the ice cream...but that helps).
💬 My go-to scripts: Exactly what to say when she’s angry, disappointed, or beating herself up.
🚫 The 3 phrases I tell parents to avoid at all costs (you’re probably using at least one).
🔄 How I help athletes turn “I suck” into “I’ll improve” (without fake positivity).

Free Resource: Grab my 25 Confidence-Building Phrases cheat sheet at trainhergame.com so you’ll never be stuck searching for words again.

Press play now! Your daughter (and your future car rides) will thank you.

Episode Highlights:

[00:00:00] The Tough Post-Game Dilemma. Introduction to the common struggle parents face when their daughter has a difficult game - the tension between saying nothing (risking seeming uncaring) and saying the wrong thing (causing shutdowns).

[00:00:31] Introducing the LOVE Framework. The 4-step LOVE Framework used in the Elite Mental Game program to handle post-game conversations effectively.

[00:01:24] Real Mom Success Stories. Three moms (Nicole, Shelly, and Andrea) share how using the LOVE Framework transformed their post-game car rides from tense to productive.

[00:02:41] The Two-Piece Confidence Puzzle. Explanation of how confidence stems from both: 1) Parental interactions, and 2) The athlete’s own mental processing skills.

[00:04:46] L - Let Her Lead. Why giving space post-game matters more than immediate feedback, with Dr. Becky Kennedy’s “emotional bench” analogy about sitting with discomfort.

[00:08:51] O - Open the Space. How creating predictable rituals (like post-game snacks) builds psychological safety for natural conversation.

[00:10:27] V - Validate the Emotion. The mirror technique: Reflecting emotions without agreeing with harsh self-criticism (“I believe you feel that way” vs. “You’re right, you played terribly”).

[00:13:58] E - Encourage Inward Reflection. Powerful questions to ask later (“What’s one thing you’re proud of?” “What would you tell a teammate feeling this way?”) that strengthen self-assessment skills.

[00:15:32] Special Case: Coach-Parents. The scrunchie method: Letting athletes physically signal whether they want “coach” or “mom” feedback in post-game conversations.

[00:16:25] Free Resource Alert. 25 Key Phrases PDF available at trainhergame.com to help parents navigate pre- and post-game conversations.

[00:16:56] Framework Recap. Quick review of LOVE: Let Her Lead, Open the Space, Validate Emotion, Encourage Inward reflection.

Next Steps:

• Join our FREE Training for Sports Moms - How to Strengthen Your Athlete Daughter's Mental Game so She Believes in Herself as Much as You Do
• Visit our podcast website for more great episodes

Thank you in advance for joining us on our mission and leaving a rating and review on Apple Podcasts.

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 powerful ways you can stand out this summer (without burning out).

Plus, a quick story about a softball player who gained confidence, leveled up her game, and got noticed, all from doing one thing differently.

Here’s what you’ll get:

💯 Why showing up consistently is more powerful than being the best
💬 What real leadership looks like (even if you’re quiet)
🧠 How to stop spiraling after a mistake and stay focused
🥗 Why eating and sleeping well is your responsibility—not your mom’s
📝 A fun bonus quiz to figure out your athlete style

This episode is your off-season game plan. Let’s get to work. 👊

Take the Competitor Quiz: elitecompetitor.com/athlete

Episode Highlights:

[00:00:00] A fresh start. Summer’s here, and if you’re hoping to make varsity or move up next season, this is your shot. These tips come from a high school volleyball coach who’s led her team to four state titles.

[00:01:27] Quick shoutout. Shoutout to Cindy, a softball player in our program who started mental training and quickly got noticed by coaches. Confidence really changes the game.

[00:02:39] Tip 1: Show up. If you want to stand out, start with consistency. Be at workouts, practices, and camps. Coaches notice who’s all in.

[00:03:38] Tip 2: Lead your way. Leadership isn’t about being loud. It’s about setting the tone—working hard, helping teammates, and showing up with good energy.

[00:05:39] Tip 3: Train your mind. Want to bounce back fast and handle pressure? That starts with mental training: routines, breathwork, and mindset work.

[00:07:41] Tip 4: Fuel like an athlete. Take care of your body with consistent meals, hydration, and good sleep. And if your parents are still waking you up or reminding you to eat… it’s time to step up.

[00:10:23] Quick recap. Be consistent. Lead by example. Train your mindset. Take care of your body.

[00:10:58] Want to go deeper? Take the competitor quiz at elitecompetitor.com/athlete to learn your style and how to train smarter.

[00:11:52] You got this. Use the summer to get better, stand out, and become the athlete you want to be.

Next Steps:

• Join our FREE Training for Sports Moms - How to Strengthen Your Athlete Daughter's Mental Game so She Believes in Herself as Much as You Do
• Visit our podcast website for more great episodes

Thank you in advance for joining us on our mission and leaving a rating and review on Apple Podcasts.