From Choking to Clutch - A Sports Psych Coach’s Journey to Mental Strength

In this episode of Confident Calm Clutch Car Ride Conversations hosted by Valerie Alston, Valerie shares her journey of becoming a mental performance coach. The conversation dives into her high school softball experience, how a pivotal moment led her to work with a sports psychologist, and the struggles she faced with perfectionism and pressure. Valerie discusses the transition from being an athlete to coaching, working with soldiers, and eventually focusing on teen athletes during the Covid era. She talks about the common mental challenges young athletes face today and provides strategies to overcome them. The episode also touches on Valerie's book, 'Confident, Calm & Clutch,' aimed at helping parents support their aspiring athletic kids. Listeners are encouraged to engage in meaningful dialogue with discussion questions provided at the end.

00:00 Introduction to Confident Calm Clutch Car Ride Conversations

00:23 A Full Circle Moment with Robert Tas

02:27 Valerie's Journey into Mental Performance Coaching

03:34 The High School Softball Game That Changed Everything

06:29 Transitioning from Athlete to Coach

08:10 Challenges Faced by Today's Youth Athletes

09:20 Writing the Book: Confident, Calm & Clutch

10:39 Interactive Car Ride Conversations

13:34 Conclusion and Call to Action

Discussion questions:

1. Have you ever had a game or performance where you felt like you had to be perfect? What was going through your mind in that moment? → Follow-up for parents: “What did you believe about mistakes when you were growing up?
2. What’s something you’ve felt responsible for—even though it wasn’t 100% on you? → This one opens up a dialogue about shared responsibility in team sports (and life), and lets kids know it's okay not to carry the entire load.
3. How do you usually calm yourself down when you're nervous or anxious before a game, test, or performance?→ Share strategies as a family—like breathing, music, positive self-talk, or movement.
4. What does ‘confidence’ mean to you? Do you think it comes from results, or something else?"→ Great opening to talk about how confidence is built—not just felt—and how it can grow through skills and preparation.

Thanks for joining me on Confident, Calm, and Clutch Car Ride Conversations! If you found this episode helpful, please subscribe to the podcast so you never miss a moment. Share it with other parents or coaches who could use a little extra inspiration on the go.

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For more specific tips on building mental toughness, buy my book Confident, Calm and Clutch: How to build confidence and mental toughness for young athletes using sports psychology

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