Coaching the Athletic Mind

Megan Weaver opens episode 33 of Coaching the Athletic Mind by focusing on the mental challenge of sitting the bench, noting many athletes now tie not playing to decreased self-worth. Drawing from her experience making varsity but sitting much of junior year, she explains how staying engaged, practicing, and supporting the team helped her continue to later college and international play. Weaver outlines common bench thoughts (“coach doesn’t like me,” “I’m not good enough,” “I should quit”) and urges coaches to check in on non-starters and communicate players’ value and roles. She reframed benching as sometimes a numbers game, encourages neutral, fact-based thinking, keeping team energy up, being happy for teammates, and advocating by asking coaches for specific skills to improve. 

In episode 32 of Coaching The Athletic Mind, host Megan Weaver shares a key concept from Dr. Nate Zinser’s The Confident Mind by making regular confidence deposits through a written top-10 highlight reel. She explains that many athletes focus on mistakes as withdrawals, so they need to document their greatest moments in sport (and parents can do the same in other areas), capturing sensory details like sounds, feelings, and environment. Weaver notes that reliving these successes creates powerful recall because the brain can’t distinguish memory from current reality, reinforcing proof of competence and confidence. She adds that repeatedly reflecting on successful moments strengthens neural pathways and myelin, making confidence more automatic, and challenges listeners to write their top 10 highlights and complete a nightly “daily audit” of one thing they did well.

In episode 31 of Coaching The Athletic Mind, host Megan Weaver shares lessons from Dr. Becky’s Good Inside interviews with pro athletes Russell Wilson, Jordan Chiles, and Tony Finau on handling failure and adversity. Weaver explains that sports like golf and softball create long gaps between plays where athletes can spiral on mistakes, so routines and preparation matter, along with triggers to regroup (like Finau resetting when his club hits the bag). She emphasizes staying emotionally neutral rather than overly positive or negative, separating self-worth from wins and losses, and focusing on the process over outcomes. Weaver highlights Dr. Becky’s idea of separating identity from behavior (a good player who had a tough moment) and encourages parents and coaches to “sit on the feelings bench,” validate emotions, avoid immediate feedback, and help kids move forward and find life outside sports as well.

In episode 30 of Coaching The Athletic Mind, host Megan Weaver participates in Podcastathon, a global initiative where podcasters raise awareness for charities, by featuring Morgan’s Message, a nonprofit focused on normalizing mental health conversations among athletes. Megan interviews Kat, Morgan’s Message co-founder and former Duke lacrosse teammate of Morgan Rogers, who heartbreakingly died by suicide, leading to the charity’s creation in July 2020. Kat explains the organization’s peer-to-peer ambassador program, resources supported by a medical advisory council, and its podcast arm, The Mental Matchup, which shares vulnerable stories to provide hope and insight. They discuss how injury can affect identity and mental health, challenges in recognizing warning signs, the role of coaches in modeling emotions and fostering supportive team environments, and the importance of genuinely checking in on others. Megan shares where to find Morgan’s Message online and encourages listeners to reflect on supporting teammates and players.#Morgan's Message#Mental Health#Podcastathon2026#Coachingtheathleticmind

Episode 29 continues a discussion on imposter syndrome and focuses on how social media can harm confidence through “compare and despair,” especially when algorithms serve highlight reels of top performers. The conversation emphasizes being intentional about who you follow, choosing content that genuinely motivates you, and setting boundaries like a daily timer to prevent endless scrolling. It also reframes success: you don’t have to be the best—being “good enough,” building strong connections, and creating meaningful experiences can reduce imposter feelings. The episode highlights that trying to be your best all the time is exhausting, and doing “B- work”  can keep you moving forward instead of stuck in perfectionism. The host previews an upcoming podcastathon episode supporting Morgan’s Message and shares contact info for team mental performance support.#Coaches#Coaching Athletes#Mental Performance

In episode 28 of Coaching The Athletic Mind, host Megan Weaver discusses imposter syndrome—feeling like a fraud despite evidence of success—and how it affects athletes and professionals. She notes that even elite performers, like an Olympic pitcher at UCLA, experience it, and explains how one mistake can trigger thoughts like “I don’t belong here.” Megan and guest Breana Field connect imposter syndrome to performance-based work, including anxiety about charging for work and fear of not meeting expectations, sometimes leading to sleepless nights. They emphasize that people often set unrealistic standards for themselves despite being chosen by coaches or clients, and that negative, protective “primitive brain” thinking can intensify at night. Coping strategies shared include holding onto past positive feedback, documenting praise to revisit when doubt spikes, and building processes that reduce anxiety—such as adding preparation time and setting low expectations at the start of a project. Megan encourages listeners to identify personal routines that reduce imposter feelings before games. 

In episode 27 of Coaching The Athletic Mind Podcast, host Megan Weaver shares insights on overcoming mental barriers to enhance athletic performance. She emphasizes the impact of self-critical thoughts and emotional resilience, drawing from her experiences coaching Division 1 athletes. Weaver outlines practical strategies for athletes to separate their self-worth from their athletic performance and develop positive self-talk. She also highlights the importance of resilience in dealing with failures and setbacks, encouraging athletes to build self-belief to achieve their goals.

In episode 26 of the 'Coaching The Athletic Mind Podcast', host Megan Weaver guides listeners into 2026 with a focus on building resilience in athletes. She discusses her new tools and increased interest in presentations on mental performance. Megan emphasizes resilience as the key trait for athletes, explaining its significance using Roger Federer's career and his attitude towards perfectionism. She shares three strategies for enhancing mental resilience.  Megan also offers insights into the benefits of mental performance coaching and encourages listeners to embrace challenges with a resilient mindset.

In episode 25 of the Coaching the Athletic Mind Podcast, host Megan Weaver celebrates a year of producing the podcast, expressing pride in her consistency and determination. She reflects on overcoming her inner critic and emphasizes the importance of life coaching in achieving her goals. Megan recaps various episodes from the past year, covering topics like handling coach criticism, building mental resilience, and developing self-confidence in athletes. She stresses the value of self-love, trusting oneself, and betting on oneself for athletic success. She encourages listeners to shift their self-talk from negative to neutral or positive and highlights the importance of believing in one's capabilities to handle challenges and failures in sports. Megan concludes by inviting listeners to reach out for a free consultation to improve their athletic mindset.

In episode 24 of the Coaching The Athletic Mind Podcast, host Megan Weaver continues her conversation with Modified West Genesee Girls soccer team coach, Kelly Slate.  The episode highlights the critical role of coaches as safety nets for middle school girls, explaining the distinction between performance-based confidence and deep-rooted self-confidence. Kelly shares her observations on the evolving pressures on young athletes due to social media and parental expectations. She emphasizes the importance of building mental resilience and character over focusing solely on winning. The discussion also touches on training routines for young athletes before tryouts and managing the pressures of comparison. Megan and Kelly conclude by reflecting on the rewarding aspects of coaching and supporting young athletes.

In episode 23 of the 'Coaching The Athletic Mind Podcast,' host Megan Weaver interviews Kelly Slate, a seasoned soccer coach for Camillus Middle School. Kelly discusses her extensive background in soccer from childhood through college despite multiple ACL injuries. The conversation delves into the challenges and rewards of coaching seventh and eighth graders, emphasizing the importance of fostering self-confidence, positive reinforcement, and mental resilience among young athletes. She shares insights on managing players of varying skill levels, encouraging perseverance, and creating a supportive team environment where every player feels valued. Megan and Kelly also explore techniques for helping players recover from mistakes and maintain focus. The episode aims to inspire both coaches and players to embrace failures as opportunities for growth and to enjoy the journey of sports beyond just winning games.

In episode 22 of the 'Coaching The Athletic Mind' podcast, host Megan Weaver discusses the importance of managing athletes' concerns about others' opinions.  Megan emphasizes how athletes often struggle with the desire to be liked by their teammates, which can distract them from their game. She introduces several mental tools to help athletes cope with negative comments and self-doubt, including the idea that others' opinions are none of their business, you don't have to believe them and using humor or agreement to defuse criticism. Megan also shares personal and client anecdotes to illustrate how these tools have helped athletes overcome mental barriers and perform better in their sports.

In episode 21 of Coaching The Athletic Mind, host Megan Weaver celebrates reaching 1,000 podcast downloads ahead of her goal and discusses the primary topic: 'Suffering is Optional in Sports.' Megan elaborates on how athletes can overcome their inner critics and mental barriers without succumbing to unnecessary emotional suffering. She stresses the importance of embracing mistakes as part of the learning process and shifting focus from negativity to problem-solving. She also provides personal anecdotes and examples from her coaching experiences to emphasize how athletes can change their mindset to better handle pressure and perform optimally.

In episode 20 of Coaching The Athletic Mind Podcast, host Megan Weaver interviews Sarah Hernan about her 11-year-old son, Joey's experience in the Coaching the Athletic Mind program. Joey, who was struggling with self-confidence and performance anxiety in lacrosse, started the program to improve his mental game. Sarah discusses the initial skepticism, the importance of starting mental coaching before the sports season, and the transformative changes Joey experienced. Joey gained tools to manage his inner critic, improved his confidence on the field, and started enjoying his sport again. Sarah also shares how the program positively impacted Joey’s academic performance and offers advice to parents on supporting young athletes.

In Episode 19 of 'Coaching the Athletic Mind' podcast, hosted by Megan Weaver, the main topic is the distinction between confidence and self-confidence in sports. Megan then delves into the differences between confidence, which is task-specific, and self-confidence, which is a broader trust in one's abilities. Megan argues that self-confidence is essential for developing actual confidence in any skill. She shares personal anecdotes and examples, such as her experience coaching a travel softball team and her toddler Wesley learning to walk, to illustrate how self-confidence helps athletes and individuals learn from their mistakes and persevere. The episode emphasizes the importance of a growth mindset, resilience, and the positive influence of self-confidence on others. Megan concludes by encouraging listeners to embrace failure as a path to success and offers her coaching services for those interested in further developing their athletic mindset.

In episode 18 of 'Coaching the Athletic Mind Podcast, host Megan Weaver discusses the importance of athletes learning to effectively communicate with their coaches. She emphasizes that this skill is critical for personal and team growth, not just in sports but in various aspects of life. She offers practical advice on preparing for these conversations, including maintaining curiosity, practicing active listening, and staying calm. She underscores that communicating well with a coach can strengthen player-coach relationships, improve performance, and teach valuable life skills. Additionally, she mentions new opportunities for mental performance coaching programs for teams and individuals.

In this 17th episode of 'Coaching The Athletic Mind' podcast, host Megan Weaver concludes her interview with Cara Martin, a former pitcher for Binghamton University and current travel team and College coach, who shares her remarkable journey from a two-year break in softball to pitching for a Division I school. Cara recounts a memorable game against Arizona State and discusses the importance of team dynamics, holding each other accountable, and supporting teammates. The conversation also delves into the significance of athletes separating their self-worth from performance, parents' roles in supporting their children, and the necessity of setting realistic expectations for college athletes. Cara emphasizes creating confident, strong women through sports and the broader lessons sports can teach for life beyond the field.

In episode 16 of Coaching the Athletic Mind Podcast, host Megan Weaver interviews Cara Martin, a standout athlete and pitching coach, who shares her remarkable journey in collegiate softball. Cara discusses her experiences transitioning from Rhode Island University to Binghamton University, her two-year hiatus from softball due to mental health challenges, and the impact of coaching on her athletic career. She also emphasizes the critical role of self-belief and the mental strength required to compete at the Division 1 level. Cara's story highlights the importance of perseverance, the power of supportive relationships, and the resilience needed to overcome setbacks and rediscover one's passion for the sport.

In Episode 15 of the 'Coaching the Athletic Mind' podcast, Coach Megan Weaver delves into the topic of performing under pressure in sports. She recounts a conversation with a young adult soccer player who struggles to make plays under pressure and offers insights into analyzing and improving performance. Megan stresses the importance of distinguishing between facts and self-judgment, understanding the reasons behind missed plays, and practicing specific techniques to build muscle memory. She also discusses the significance of maintaining a positive and determined mindset, and how shifting one’s internal dialogue can dramatically impact performance. Megan encourages athletes to use mistakes as learning opportunities and to seek constructive feedback from coaches.

In episode 14 of Coaching The Athletic Mind Podcast, Megan aims to demonstrate how to set and achieve athletic goals by interviewing her daughter, Cora, who is preparing for soccer tryouts. They discuss Cora's main goal of making the modified soccer team and break it down into mini goals: running to improve stamina, enhancing ball handling skills, and improving shooting accuracy. Megan advises on identifying potential obstacles and formulating strategies to overcome them, emphasizing the importance of maintaining motivation and enjoying the process. The episode ends with reflections on the past softball season and encouragement for Cora as she embarks on her soccer journey.

In this episode of "Coaching The Athletic Mind," host Megan Weaver interviews three former student-athletes—Anna, Makayla, and Mackenzie—who successfully completed her program. These young women, all high school athletes (Anna, Makayla and Mackenzie, seniors), discuss the mental challenges they faced in sports, such as self-doubt, fear of failure, and losing their love for the game. Makayla felt playing became a chore due to self-doubt, Mackenzie struggled with constant self-criticism after an error, and Anna experienced significant frustration after games. They all highlight how the program helped them overcome these hurdles and regain confidence and enjoyment. Furthermore, they emphasize the lasting impact of the coaching, noting that the skills learned, such as positive self-talk, self-trust, and processing emotions, are applicable not only in sports but also in navigating academic and social pressures in college and adulthood. They advise younger athletes to embrace errors, avoid dwelling on mistakes, focus on the joy and teammate aspects of the sport, and understand that individual errors are rarely remembered by others.

This podcast episode of "Coaching the Athletic Mind," hosted by Megan Weaver, features an interview with three senior student athletes: Anna, Makayla, and Mackenzie. These young women, all former participants in Weaver's coaching program, discuss the mental challenges they faced as high school athletes and how the program helped them overcome these hurdles.

In Episode 11 of the Coaching The Athletic Mind Podcast, host Megan Weaver addresses the difficult topic of handling losses in sports. She explains the emotional toll losses can take on athletes and emphasizes the importance of viewing losses as learning opportunities rather than personal failures. Megan shares her personal experiences and stresses the need to validate feelings, focus on factual reasons for the loss, and identify areas for improvement. She offers three key steps to help athletes bounce back: feel and process the emotions, analyze why the loss happened factually, and determine how to improve. Megan encourages a supportive coaching approach and underscores the significance of mental resilience in sports.

In episode 10 of the Coaching the Athletic Mind Podcast, host Megan Weaver discusses the importance of mindset in athletic performance. She shares personal anecdotes and client experiences to illustrate how thoughts can either help or hinder performance on the field. Megan highlights the difference in mentality that leads to confidence and better outcomes, using examples from her experience as a varsity softball assistant coach. The episode includes a guided imagery exercise to demonstrate the power of the mind in creating desired emotional states. Megan emphasizes the need for consistent positive self-talk and offers practical advice and sample thoughts athletes can use to improve their game. She encourages listeners to reflect on their thoughts and provides an opportunity for a free consultation to delve deeper into mental performance strategies

This episode of Coaching The Athletic Mind Podcast, hosted by Coach Megan Weaver, delves into the concept of mental toughness. Coach Weaver shares personal anecdotes from her coaching career and emphasizes the importance of positive self-talk over negative inner criticism. She discusses her experiences with her players, highlighting how staying mentally strong through positive affirmations can significantly impact performance both on and off the field. Megan also shares her journey of managing multiple coaching roles and her goal to inspire athletes to surpass their limits with self-love and support.

Megan Weaver addresses the significance of failure in athletic development, particularly for young female athletes. She shares insights into how the fear of failure can hinder performance and discusses strategies to normalize and embrace failure as a vital part of growth. Megan suggests that by teaching young athletes to handle failure, they can build emotional resilience and improve their performance. Examples from her coaching experience and notable athletes like Michael Jordan and Serena Williams illustrate how failure can be a powerful motivator for success.

In episode seven of the Coaching The Athletic Mind Podcast, host Megan Weaver releases part two of an interview with Softball Coach Tracey Roman from Division One Le Moyne College.  They explore at what age the recruiting process begins, the importance of academics, and providing broad exposure by attending various camps and games. Coach Roman emphasizes the significance of character and core values in athletes, the role of multi-sport participation, and the impact of social media. She offers advice for parents on supporting their children and ensuring they are active participants in their own recruitment journey. The conversation also covers the coach’s perspective on evaluating potential recruits and the importance of genuine communication between athletes and coaches.

Coaching the Athletic Mind welcomes Coach Tracey Roman to discuss the realities of college sports. From her D1 playing days to coaching, Tracey shares insights on mental challenges, earning playing time, and building an identity beyond athletics. We explore the 'crisis of self-esteem' athletes face in college, the importance of diverse roles on a team, and the need for a well-rounded life. This episode is crucial for aspiring athletes, parents, and coaches seeking to understand the mental and emotional side of college sports. Stay tuned for Part Two, where we cover college recruiting & how parents can help in this process.

In Episode 5 of Coaching the Athletic Mind, host Megan Weaver continues her conversation with best friend Breana Field. They reflect on their high school experiences, emphasizing how their friendship evolved despite diverging sports paths. Megan shares her intense journey to make the varsity softball team, highlighting themes of perseverance and passion. Breana, on the other hand, chose to pivot to track, valuing personal fulfillment over competitive stress. Their discussion underscores the importance of individual choices in sports and the significance of supportive friendships. Megan also offers advice for athletes facing setbacks and encourages pursuing passions wholeheartedly.

In episode four of 'Coaching the Athletic Mind Podcast,' host Megan Weaver welcomes her longtime best friend Breana Field. They discuss the significance of friendships outside of sports teams, sharing personal anecdotes from their childhood and college experiences. Breana shares how her parents encouraged her involvement in various activities to build friendships and how their journey in sports intertwined their families. They highlight the impact of parental behavior on children's sports experiences, reminiscing about both positive and challenging moments. The episode emphasizes the need for supportive and understanding parental involvement in sports.

Harnessing Emotions for Athletic SuccessIn this episode of Coaching the Athletic Mind, host Megan Weaver discusses the often overlooked topic of emotions in sports.  She explains how athletes can identify and choose constructive emotions before a game, thereby channeling feelings like focus, confidence, and motivation to excel on the field. Listeners are guided through practical steps to understand and manage their emotional states, transforming negative feelings into positive ones using techniques tested in her coaching practice.

In episode two of the Coaching the Athletic Mind podcast, hosted by Megan Weaver, the focus is on how athletes can mentally cope with coaches who yell. Megan discusses her family's experiences with her daughter's soccer coach and outlines the responsibilities of parents and coaches in developing a child's belief system. She provides three actionable steps for athletes to handle yelling. Additionally, Megan emphasizes the importance of constructive communication between parents and coaches and offers a free consultation for deeper work.