Building Confidence in Young Athletes

Lisa Cohn
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Ultimate Sports Parent Radio (www.youthsportspsychology.com), which aims to instill confidence and success in child and teen athletes, interviews coaches, parents, authors, professors and others about how to identify and overcome mental game challenges in sports. Hosted by Lisa Cohn. co-founder of the Ultimate Sports Parent and Kids' Sports Psychology.

  1. FEB 10

    Quiet Leaders in Youth Sports are Consistent, Calm and Prepared

    True leaders in sports don't need the spotlight. They earn trust through preparation, emotional control and how they show up every day—not by being the loudest voice, said Dan Gold, a sports dad, former surgeon and businessman and the author of Game Changers. The foundation of quiet leadership is emotional regulation. When pressure rises, strong leaders stay steady rather than escalating emotionally, he said. Guest: Dan Gold, author of Game Changers Send podcast episode ideas to LisaEllenCohn1@gmail.com  Subscribe to and rate this podcast on Apple Podcasts Visit our blog at YouthSportsPsychology.com Visit host Lisa Cohn at LisaECohn.com

    29 min

  2. JAN 28

    Why High Sports Performance Can Lead to Poor Mental Health

    High performance in sports doesn't necessarily translate into mental well-being, said Hania Taduran, a former Division I beach volleyball player and founder of the nonprofit Breaking Barriers, which aims to redefine the narrative about mental health in athletics. During her college career at the University of the Pacific, especially during COVID isolation, she and her teammates experienced mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression, eating disorders and burnout. Fear of stigma, losing scholarships, or being seen as weak prevented many athletes from seeking help, said Taduran, who is 23. Send ideas for podcast episodes to LisaEllenCohn1@gmail.com Subscribe to and rate this podcast on Apple Podcasts Visit our blog at YouthSportsPsychology.com Learn about host Lisa Cohn at LisaECohn.com

    21 min

  3. JAN 8

    The Consequences of High Costs and Expectations in Youth Sports

    How are young athletes affected when their parents sink large amounts of money into youth sports and pile on expectations? Harvey Araton was a sports columnist for The New York Times for 26 years, where he covered ten Olympics and countless NBA finals, World Series, Super Bowls and Final Fours. A sports parent, he's the author of The Goal of the Game, which was released in December.   Araton warns sports parents about the pitfalls of spending too much money on youth sports--which creates pressure for sports kids. He also cautions parents to avoid heaping high expectations on sports kids, and tells stories about how he parented his own young athletes, in one case, encouraging a child to play on a select team, and in another case, discouraging it.   Subscribe to and rate our Building Confidence in Young Athletes podcast on Apple Podcasts. Learn more about host Lisa Cohn at LisaECohn.com. Send podcast guest ideas to LisaEllenCohn1@gmail.com

    27 min

  4. 12/09/2025

    Sports Kids Should Follow Their Dreams, Says Former Professional Golfer

    Former professional golfer Jay Delsing, author of "You Wouldn't Believe Me If I Told You," describes how he pursued his sports dream and says young athletes should also aim high, even if the odds of success are low. Growing up in a large, low-income, sports-oriented family, he was encouraged to believe he could achieve anything with hard work, he said. Although baseball was his first love, golf became his passion. "I wasn't smart enough to really be afraid. I mean, (people) would tell me all these odds," Delsing said.  "'Do you know that less than 1 % of everybody that plays golf can play on the PGA tour?' people would ask. And I'm like, no, I didn't know that. And I don't really care. Somebody's got to make up that 1%. Why can't it be me?" Learn more about Delsing at Golf with Jay Delsing. Send podcasst episode ideas: Contact Ultimate Sports Parent Subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts Visit host Lisa Cohn's parenting blog

    34 min

  5. 11/26/2025

    Help Sports Kids Overcome Performance Blocks

    Young athletes who forget skills, freeze up or make avoidable mistakes and who can't meet their practice performance during competitions are struggling with performance blocks. These blocks can be caused by excessive pressure, anxiety, worry, perfectionism or identity issues and self-judgement, said Albert Bramante, a psychology professor and author of "Rise Above the Script." To help kids overcome these performance blocks, parents can remind them that blocks do not reflect ability. "It's not their fault that this has happened. It's not an indication that you're a subpar athlete or subpar performer; it just means you have a lot of anxiety," he said. Send podcast ideas to LisaEllenCohn1@gmail.com   with "podcast idea" in the subject line. Subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts Check out our youth sports psychology blog. Visit host Lisa Cohn's writing website.

    21 min

  6. 11/05/2025

    How Sports Kids Can Build Confidence Under Pressure

    Andy Whittier knows how to cope with pressure. He transitioned from playing college football to representing the U.S. in the skeleton sport, a solo, head-first sled race down an icy track at speeds of up to 89 mph.  At first, it was terrifying, he said. But with constant practice, he started making some "good, fast clean runs" and building confidence. Athletes can build confidence gradually through experience, discipline and stacking small wins over time. Repetition and practice are key, he said. Send episode ideas to LisaEllenCohn1@gmail.com Subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts. Learn more about host and writer Lisa Cohn at LisaECohn.com Visit Andy Whittier at AndyWhittier.com

    16 min

  7. 10/21/2025

    Motivate Sports Kids by Identifying Their Brain Type

    P.J. Glassey, personal trainer, "biohacker" at XGym.com, and author of Cracking Your Calorie Code, has identified 16 brain types that help determine how best to motivate athletes and boost their performance. Developed over a 5-year period, his 20-question brain type test–which combines psychology and fitness– helps people get fit with less reliance on willpower. Once Glassey identifies an athlete's brain type, he provides motivation and fitness "hacks," he said. To send podcast episode ideas, contact Ultimate Sports Parent Subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts Visit our youthsportspsychology blog Visit host Lisa Cohn at LisaECohn.com

    28 min

  8. 10/06/2025

    Overcoming Adversity in Youth Sports By Being "All In"

    When sports kids face challenges such as injuries or mistakes, they're more likely to overcome them by being "all in"--committed to working hard and improving in their sport. Chad Dunn, CEO of Move Performance Center and former BMX racer, asks kids facing adversity, "Do you really want to do this?" The right answer, he says, is "Coach, I'm all in." A big challenge for sports kids is comparing themselves to others, especially when they focus too much on what other athletes are posting on social media, he says. His advice: Stop making comparisons.  Send podcast episode ideas to The Ultimate Sports Parent Follow our LinkedIn Page Follow us on Apple Podcasts Check out our youth sports psychology blog

    20 min
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Ultimate Sports Parent Radio (www.youthsportspsychology.com), which aims to instill confidence and success in child and teen athletes, interviews coaches, parents, authors, professors and others about how to identify and overcome mental game challenges in sports. Hosted by Lisa Cohn. co-founder of the Ultimate Sports Parent and Kids' Sports Psychology.

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