Raising Competitors: Equipping Parents to Build Grit, Character and Leaders in Youth Sports and Life

Originally aired in April 2023.In this episode, host Jake Thompson sits down with Randi Corbin, a sports performance and strength & conditioning coach at Hamilton High School. Randi also coaches freshman softball and brings a wealth of experience in developing young athletes both physically and mentally. This conversation dives deep into:How parents can support their young athletes to be strong leaders and positive teammates.The dangers of the “D1 or Bust” mentality and its impact on both athletes and their families.Strategies for avoiding early burnout, including the value of multi-sport participation.Encouraging a healthy relationship with training - seeing hard work as an opportunity, not a punishment.The role of body language in sports and how athletes can support each other through tough moments.Effective ways for parents to communicate positively, especially during the all-important car ride home.

Originally aired in April 2023Mental performance coach Brett Ashley Davis discusses how parents can help their high school athletes make a successful transition to the collegiate level without burning out or quitting.Connect with Brett on Instagram and her website BrettAshleyDavis.com.

Originally aired in March 2023.Mental performance coach & IMG+ consultant Elle' Nelsonjoins the show to discuss resilience, the importance of finding & aligning our values, & how we can create space as parents to help our young athletes grow.Connect with Elle' on social media: on Instagram & LinkedIn.

Originally aired in March 2023.In this episode, Jake Thompson welcomes Amanda Schaefer, founder of Fearless Fast Pitch, to discuss the crucial topics of athlete identity, self-talk, and actionable strategies for parents to help their young athletes develop strong mental skills. Amanda brings her unique perspective as a former athlete, coach, and parent of three young kids. The episode is packed with actionable advice, personal stories, and practical tools for both parents and athletes.Connect with Amanda on ⁠Instagram⁠ or on her Fearless Fast Pitch website ⁠FearlessFastPitch.com⁠.To listen to the Compete Every Day podcast episode on SaraBlakely and "Where did you fail today?" click here.Actionable Takeaways for ParentsDo a time/identity inventory with your child: Examine how much time is spent on sports and discuss whether your child feels their life is balanced or if they want to make changes.Practice curiosity on the car ride home: Rather than critiquing or fixing, ask open-ended questions (“What were you thinking at that moment?” “How did you feel out there?”) and offer support—“I’m proud of you” goes further than you think.Use bedtime as a space for connection: Sit at the edge of your child’s bed and engage in low-pressure chats about their day—ask about what was good, what was hard, and their hopes for tomorrow.

Originally aired in February 2023.In this insightful episode, Jake Thompson welcomes Bella Loomis , a standout former Arizona State University softball player turned coach and sports psychology advocate. Bella shares her journey from elite athlete to mentor, highlighting the mental challenges young competitors face today and offering actionable strategies for parents and coaches to nurture resilient, confident, and purpose-driven athletes.Connect with Bella on Instagram or on her coaching website BellaLoomis.com.

Originally aired in February 2023.Jake Thompson sits down with Justine Jones, a mental performance coach who works with athletes ranging from middle schoolers to professionals. In this episode, they dive deep into the do’s and don’ts for parents when it comes to building mental toughness in young athletes. Justine shares actionable advice for parents on how to support their kids’ mental growth in sports and life, emphasizing the role of process, courage, and positive car ride conversations.Connect with Justine on Instagram or on her team's website RJPG.net.Do’s & Don’ts for Parents:Do: Let your child initiate post-game conversations – don’t turn the car ride home into a “coffin” by forcing debriefs or feedback.Do: Highlight courage and bravery, not just outcomes. Give attention to their effort, resilience, and sportsmanship, not just whether they won or lost.Don’t: Belittle the coach in front of your child. This puts them in a tough spot and shifts their focus away from improvement and fun.Do: Encourage a “power of yet” mindset (“I can’t do this…yet”), fostering resilience and growth.

Originally aired in February 2023.This week’s episode with Klayton Carroll (author of Ready Player Win) drops a sledgehammer on weak mindsets. Klayton never played hockey growing up, but when the team needed a coach, he laced up and learned to skate. He showed up, sucked, and kept working. Because results don’t care about your background. The only thing that matters? Are you grinding to get better, or are you sitting on your hands and waiting for someone else to pave the way?Here’s the Klayton mentality: “Just because you're in small town Sidney, Montana doesn't mean you're locked into this place...Put in the work, put in the effort, you can do it.”Connect with Klayton on Instagram, LinkedIn, or order his book Ready Player Win here.

Originally aired in January 2023.Host Jake Thompson sits down with Danielle Orvilla, former college softball athlete, coach, and creator of The DO Method, to explore actionable ways parents and athletes can build resilience, develop a competitive mindset, and handle the pressure that comes with sports and life.Top Actionable TakeawaysLet Time Diffuse Emotions: After a game, give your child space to reflect before discussing performance, especially if emotions are high.Practice Daily Gratitude: Use the “GROW” method: start each day by stating what you're grateful for, outlining your routine, finding an opportunity in adversity, and affirming your self-worth.Respect Coach-Athlete Dynamics: Parents should remember that the coach’s voice is key during the game. Support your child’s learning from others and communicate openly at home.Reframe Mindset at Home: Help your athlete see setbacks as learning moments rather than failures, focusing on lessons and growth.

Originally aired in June 2020.Intentionality is the key to deep relationships and deep relationships are what make a strong and cohesive team. This week on the Raising Competitors podcast, leadership and team development facilitator Bobby Audley shares ideas for team-building that will last. It doesn’t matter if your team is a group of young athletes, seasoned pros, or employees who work with one another in an office, finding a way to bring them together as individuals and as people will help foster a bond that will make the whole group stronger.Some of the most successful teams aren’t the ones who win the most games, Audley says, but the ones who have good camaraderie and a shared vision. That comes from building trust between teammates, allowing yourself to be vulnerable as a person, and not getting defensive when someone challenges you — but instead using a challenge as a learning opportunity. It comes down to opening up the doors to good communication and a willingness to share with those around you.What You’ll Learn:• Be intentional about relationships• Allow yourself to be vulnerable• Make time for one-on-one conversations• Lean into fear and discomfort• Work to build trust with your team

Originally aired in June 2020.It’s a serious commitment to be a youth sports parent and it can be challenging, at times, to find the best way to support your child through their journey.It takes time, money, and emotional energy to stand on the sidelines and provide healthy motivation at home, while leaving room for your child to grow and learn on their own. This week, author and speaker Alan Stein Jr. talks about parenting a young athlete.It comes down to modeling the behaviors you want to see them learn and use in everyday life, he says. “I think every parent needs to get great clarity on why you want your children to play sports. And that’s not for me to answer for anyone. That’s for each and every parent to articulate,” says Stein.Once you know why you want them to be there, you can develop the tools to help guide them. As parents, the unseen hours between games and practices, sometimes without our kids around, can be the most important for holistically improving ourselves and building the structures and frameworks to support our families.Things You’ll Learn:• Be realistic about the standards you’re setting• Avoid coaching from the sidelines• Practice meaningful repetition to improve• Reinforce the behavior you want to see reflected• Recognize the difference between preparation and performance

Originally aired in May 2020Every person has a body, a heart, and a mind. It’s where these three components come together that the magic happens, says this week’s guest, teacher and coach Lani Silversides.Practicing mindfulness about how we speak with and act around kids can help us set a positive example for them. It can also help them develop a strong skill set and work ethic that will serve them well as they grow and progress.Things You’ll Learn:• Be mindful of the language you use• Pay attention to family routines• Move away from quick judgment about performance• Build mental muscles• Keep the fun factor in youth sports

Originally aired April 2020.Kids are like sponges. They soak up whatever you say to them, as parents or coaches, and learn how to act and react from the behavior they see modeled for them. That’s why it’s important to be mindful of how you respond.This week, coach Nicole Denes shares tips on supporting the process, rather than focusing on the outcomes, and helping kids build good habits for the long run.It can be helpful to think about problems or mistakes before they happen. That way, you can practice how you might respond before you’re put on the spot. Especially for kids and adults who tend towards perfectionism, it can be useful to re-focus on the skills you need to improve, rather than whether or not a result was perfect.After all, perfection may be unattainable, but improvement is always possible.What You’ll Learn:• Invest in the process• Prepare and plan for mistakes to happen• Be mindful of your reactions• Practice accountability for your actions• Support versatility and variety in sports

Originally aired in April 2020.Enjoyment is a key part of sticking with sports. Especially for youth athletes, finding happiness and fulfillment in the game is crucial to their motivation to attend practice every day and put in their best work. This week, coach and blogger Erica Suter shares ideas for helping youth athletes take joy in the process because if they care about playing, they’ll keep coming back.One way to help kids have fun is by letting them explore. Increasingly, children are being encouraged to specialize in a single sport, with the goal of becoming a professional or earning a college scholarship.But, Suter says, kids are better athletes when they have the flexibility to try new things and grow themselves in different ways. As parents, this could mean letting kids play multiple sports or getting them involved in other activities and skills, such as strength and conditioning. “Build the human first,” Suter says. Then, focus on the player.What You’ll Learn:• Practice having a growth mindset• Build healthy habits for long-term change• Take breaks to prevent burnout• Set short-term goals• Create a reflection journal

Originally aired in March 2020.Kids aren’t just mini-adults. They think differently, process stimuli differently, and fundamentally understand the world in a different way. That’s why it’s important, as adults, to be careful what you say when you want kids to understand you, and how you say it.This week, James Leath discusses the challenges and rewards of working with young athletes and shares tips for connecting with them on their level to achieve better communication and outcomes.As the founder of Unleash The Athlete, he has years of experience working with both youth and the individuals who support them, such as parents and coaches. By working to understand how kids experience the world around them, you can better support them on their journey of growth.What You’ll Learn:• Encourage positive self-talk in young athletes• Be mindful of how you speak to kids• Let your kids fail and learn from it• Work to understand how kids think• Support healthy bonds between teammates

Originally aired in March 2020.Being a successful team means being on the same page. That goes for athletes, parents, and coaches. Everyone needs to have a shared goal in mind and work towards achieving it.This week, former The Colony High School Lady Cougars Coach & Vice President of the Texas High School Girls Coaches Association Colby Davis shares tips for managing the expectations and abilities of a young team and all of its supporters. It comes down to having good communication at all levels and making sure everyone is invested in the end game.Young teams can comprise players of many skill levels. Each player brings their own strengths to the team, even if it’s being the loudest cheerleader on the bench at gametime. The key to keeping players in sync with one another is to play to those strengths and help kids understand the importance of recognizing others’ successes.It also makes them tougher competitors if they can see what the competition is doing right and adapt to improve their own game and ultimately win.What You’ll Learn:• Seek out tough competition• Be sure not to overwork a young athlete• Let kids be role models for each other• Help athletes acknowledge team members’ successes• Practice and preach your ideal culture

Originally aired in February 2020.It can be daunting to find trustworthy support and resources as a player, coach, or parent.This week, fellow podcaster and baseball aficionado Joe Ferraro discusses his Youth Baseball School initiative, which aims to consolidate valuable information in one place for ballplayers and their supporters. It’s a community where you can seek out like-minded people for advice and tips to get the most out of your experience with the sport.For Compete Every Day podcast listeners, Ferraro may be a familiar voice. He’s the founder and host of the One Percent Better podcast and joined us in season 3 here. He brings the same commitment to education and relationship-building to his new project.In this episode, he also shares stories of how lessons he learned in baseball have translated to life as a whole and the importance of staying true to the pursuit of lifelong learning, which makes finding curated and trusted resources all the more important.What You’ll Learn:• Ways to connect with experts in the field• How to cope with the mental side of the game• The importance of taking breaks as a player• How to translate sports lessons into life lessons• Where to seek out advice from people you can trust Listen to Joe Ferraro's interview on the Compete Every Day Podcast here.

Originally aired in February 2020.Kids are kids, and they need to have fun. Nowadays, there’s a tendency to push kids into picking a particular sport at a young age. There’s the prevailing idea that if a kid isn’t specializing early, they’re falling behind.Southbay FC founder Kelly Gray says in actuality, kids should be doing the opposite. They should be able to try out as many sports as they want when they’re young, and hold off on choosing a main focus until they’re older.For nearly a decade, Gray played in Major League Soccer. He became a coach soon after retiring from the field. He saw both kids and adults questing for player perfection when they should have been focusing on progress. Kids need to be able to enjoy their sports experience, Gray says, and have the opportunity to learn various skills.Those extra abilities will serve them well as they get older and put them ahead of the competition when it really counts.What You’ll Learn:• Aim for progress, not perfection• Encourage diversity of experience• Allow young athletes to fail• Wait to specialize until kids are older• Offer breaks to prevent burnout

Originally aired in September 2019.When you look at your calendar, does it accurately reflect your life priorities? How about the priorities you want to have? This week’s guest, Jon Vroman, looked at his own calendar several years ago and realized that, although he talked about his family as the center of his world, work was taking precedence in his time.That realization inspired him to start Front Row Dads, which aims to help men reframe their thoughts and conversations about fatherhood.Vroman says men need to step up and take responsibility and pride in having a front row seat.

Originally aired in September 2019.Kip Watson is a former tackle football player with a seminary degree who raised two kids while building a business. Kip helps people discover and improve their beliefs, habits, and tools to achieve success and more than they thought possible.Kip has more than 20 years of experience assisting individuals, teams, coaches, leaders, families, and couples. Today, she is a certified trainer for the Positive Coaching Alliance and one of the few Certified High-Performance Coaches (CHPC) in the world, obtaining her credential from the highest-paid personal development and performance coach, Brendon Burchard, coach to influencers such as Oprah Winfrey, Arianna Huffington, and Usher.Learn more about Anne 'Kip' Watson's work at BrainCodeCorp.com. Mention this episode of the Raising Competitors podcast and receive $100 off her athlete/executive assessment!

Originally aired in August 2019.Priscilla Tallman understands the importance of focus and a growth mindset. She was the SEC Conference Player of the Year during her time playing volleyball at the University of Georgia. She later went on to play for the US National Team.Now, after years as a high school and club coach, Priscilla is a Pac-12 Conference volleyball coach, helping the next generation of players win and off the court. In today's episode, we discuss teaching a growth mindset, why journaling is a key component of her work with The Reset Group, and how she's parenting two athletes in her own home. Learn more about Priscilla's work with The Reset Group and learn about their digital programs for youth athletes at TheResetGroup.com.

Originally aired in July 2019.Elizabeth McVickers knows what it’s like to play without purpose. The former collegiate athlete is now driven to help others find their purpose on and off of the course and help them succeed.We sat down this week to discuss her “Dear Athlete” letters at Branched Athletics, what “playing with purpose” means, and how her unique collegiate career created this unique opportunity to pay it forward.Learn more about @Branchedathletics on Instagram or their website, BranchedAthletics.com.

Originally aired in July 2019It’s easy to get caught up in the idea that you have to hit home runs every day in order to become successful. The best hitters in the game aren’t swinging for the fences every time they get to the plate. Just like the best quarterbacks aren’t throwing for the endzone every pass. There’s nothing wrong with chipping away at your goal and your growth with small swings, every day, that add up to significant success over time.In this solo episode, Jake uses fairy tales and baseball games as illustrations for how to overcome big obstacles and move closer to success that you can share with your youth athlete.

Originally aired in July 2019.Rodney Webb is the head football coach at Rockwall High School in Texas and president of the Texas High School Coaches Association. This week, he shares tips from his nearly 30 years in coaching.

Originally aired July 2019.Former Olympic swimmer Caroline Burckle joins this week's show to discuss her athletic journey and the co-founding of RISE Athletes, a program that partners young athletes with Olympians for mentorship opportunities.Burckle discusses the importance of diversifying their experiences (outside of sports) helps set them on the path to success in the future, as they can choose from many skillsets at different times in life.Rise Athletes: http://www.rise-athletes.com/

Originally aired in June 2019.When leaders do their best, everyone’s better for it.That’s a bit of wisdom from this week’s guest, Adam Bradley, who is the founder of Lead ‘Em Up. His company helps coaches develop their athletes into leaders both in sports and everyday life.Leadership is a lifestyle, after all, Bradley says. It can’t just come out in only one aspect of your or your players’ lives; it has to be present all the time.

Originally aired in June 2019.Being able to learn new skills is the most important skill to have. That’s the start of the pathway to success for Bobby Stroupe, founder of ATHLETE Performance Enhancement Center, or APEC, and personal trainer for NFL Super Bowl Champion Patrick Mahomes. In the end, coaches and mentors are building people, not athletes, he says. That’s why it’s important to learn or encourage the habits and practices that build a solid foundation for a successful life, which can also be used to improve athletic ability. At an early age, that means building mental and physical flexibility and adaptability, so the potential is limitless as a person grows.

Originally aired in June 2019.Talking the talk is important, but even more so is walking the walk. That’s the key message from this week’s guest, Arbonne Executive National Vice President Miranda Burcham. Along with that, she’s a fitness pro, a full-time mother of five who does international mission work, and she teaches classes at a local women’s recovery center. In all of her endeavors, she’s had her children by her side. They’ve seen her succeed and fall behind and they’ve been with her through her ups and downs. Burcham says she and her husband, Bubba, have made a point of modeling commitment and work ethic for their kids, in order to teach by example how to lead a compassionate life dedicated to helping others.

Originally aired in June 2019.Grit is just one of the many pieces of the success puzzle. Author & Sports Psychologist Dr. Cindra Kamphoff shares how grit is a great starting point for thinking about what it truly takes to be at the top of your game or field as an athlete or entrepreneur. It's often the most challenging moments that change us the most. If we overcome them and persevere, we develop the grit and long-term passion it takes to succeed.

Originally aired in May 2019.Cultivating relationships, both offline and online, is key to achieving long-range goals. That’s one of the messages from this week’s guest, Lauren Teague, a social media pro, podcast host, and full-time mom of three. She previously worked formany years as the person behind the PGA Tour’s social media presence. She shares her philosophy on conversation-driven engagement and talks about how to model a good work and life ethic for kids who look to you for examples.She credits her parents with teaching her to be both highly driven and dedicated to her pursuits. Her mother gave her the gift of vision, she says, while her dad showed her that hard work breeds success. It’s those skills she’s put to work both in her private and professional lives.

Originally aired in 2019.Children today are the leaders of tomorrow. That’s why it’simportant to foster healthy relationships with kids and help them on the path to positive growth and development.Matt Sharp is the co-founder of the child developmentprogram, KidStrong. KidStrong is dedicated to helping parents raise stronger, smarter, and more athletic children.Traditionally, education and child development programs havefocused on specific pieces of a child’s life, like athletics or the arts or sciences. By bringing every aspect of learning together, he says, children will grow holistically and be better established to succeed in life as they get older.He follows the 80/20 rule, which argues that 80 percent of theeffects come from 20 percent of the causes. By teaching kids those top 20 percent of skills in any area, adults can prime them to get the most out of life and maximize their learning time in the process.

Originally aired in 2019.Stephen Mackey, founder of 2Words, talks about his journey to becoming a character development speaker and shares ideas for parents, coaches, students, and adults alike to build a depth of character that will carry them forward in the world.It’s easy to get stuck in the weeds, forgetting to look at the deeper meaning behind your work. But by connecting each small step with a greater vision, you can bring purpose into your work and remember why you’re doing what you’re doing.Listen and learn how to:Reward in children what you want to see repeatedMerge skill set and passion for your best outcomeUnderstand the responsibility that comes with choicesConnect the overarching vision with the next small stepAlign competition with a greater purpose

Originally aired in 2019.Changing the Game Project founder John O'Sullivan joins thesecond episode Raising Competitors Podcast to discuss the state of youth sports, how to handle tricky situations with your child's sports' experience, and how John started the Changing the Game Project in 2012 after two decades as a soccer player and coach on the youth, high school, college and professional level. He is the author of the #1 bestselling book Changing the Game: The Parents Guide to Raising Happy, High Performing Athletes, and his work has been featured in The Huffington Post, CNN.com, Outside Magazine, ESPN.com, Soccer America and numerous other publications. Visit ChangingTheGameProject.com.Order John's book here.

Lindsey Smith has always been athletic, including her college career as a three-sport athlete at DePaul. Smith talks about her journey through sports and life and shares tips on transitioning away from being a full-time athlete in a healthy and productive way.As a coach, she’s fostered positive relationships with her athletes and used the same work ethic to raise two active and hardworking daughters of her own. She shows kids the power of going all in on a dream and working hard to reach a tough goal, and how to bounce back from that even if it doesn’t go as planned. Follow Lindsey on X

Parenting a youth athlete today is more than driving to practices and games—it’s about raising resilient kids who lead with grit, gratitude, and growth.On Raising Competitors™, performance coach and Compete Every Day founder Jake Thompson helps parents like you build the foundation for lifelong success—on and off the field.Whether you're navigating tryouts, burnout, or how to support without pressuring, this show provides tactical strategies, expert interviews, and mindset shifts that help you raise competitors—not just players.If you’re a parent who wants to:Build grit, leadership & confidence in your childHelp them develop a growth mindset & emotional toughnessSupport their sports journey without losing focus on life after the gameAvoid the traps of burnout, comparison & perfectionismLearn what separates good athletes from great people…this podcast is for you.Each episode connects youth sports lessons to real-life leadership, backed by Jake’s frameworks (like C.O.M.P.E.T.E.™ & T.O.D.A.Y.™) and stories from coaches, psychologists, parents, and athletes who’ve walked the walk.Because in sports, school, and life—it’s always you vs. you. And every day is game day.Raising Competitors™ isn’t about chasing trophies. It’s about helping your kids chase their best.🎧 Subscribe now and learn how to raise competitors—because life is worth competing for.