What Coaching 3rd and 4th Grade Girls Taught Me About Leadership

Original Air Date: 11/10/25Podcast Episode #19: Coaching My Daughter’s Flag Football Team — Leadership, Lessons, and Letting GoWhen you say yes to something outside your comfort zone, you rarely realize how much it will change you.In this episode, Ashlee shares the story of what started as a simple volunteer “yes” coaching her daughter’s 3rd and 4th grade girls’ flag football team and how it became one of the most meaningful lessons in patience, perspective, and purpose.Because coaching 8- and 9-year-old girls? It’s not about grooming future CEOs.It’s about helping them believe they can.It’s about giving them the confidence to lead their own lives — to use their voice, trust their instincts, and take up space in whatever path they choose.You’ll hear what it’s really like to coach your own child, balance fairness with competitiveness, and build a sense of belonging where every girl feels seen, both on and off the field.Ashlee shares how this season reshaped her view of leadership, community, and what it means to show up for the next generation, not to control their journey, but to guide them toward their own.In this episode, we cover:• Why girls in sports are 1.5x more likely to have higher self-esteem and why that matters far beyond the game• How to coach your own child without blurring the lines between mom and mentor• The hardest part of coaching no one warns you about (and why it mirrors real-life leadership)• How parents shape confidence when they focus on effort over outcome• Why leadership isn’t about control — it’s about creating space for others to growYour Biggest Takeaway:We’re not grooming future CEOs.We’re shaping girls who believe they can — girls who grow up with agency, voice, and courage to lead their own lives.Before you go:If this episode hit home, here’s what I want you to do:• Follow the show so you don’t miss what’s coming next.• Share this episode with another parent, coach, or teammate who gets it.• DM me on Instagram [@rxashleehayes](https://www.instagram.com/rxashleehayes) — tell me: What unexpected place has taught you the most about leadership?Always remember: You’re not too much. You’re just done shrinking. And you’re right on time.