Episode 2

full
Published on:

20th Jan 2025

Why Do You Play Sports?

Understanding Your Why in Sports

In this episode of we discuss the importance of understanding the motivations behind why children play sports. Valerie shares her personal experiences and emphasizes the significance of parents recognizing their child's unique reasons for participating in sports. The episode includes questions to spark meaningful conversations between parents and young athletes, aimed at fostering stronger relationships and helping children enjoy and benefit from their sporting activities.

Insights

Motivation changes and evolved over time. Being aligned as parent, coach and athlete helps manage expectations and the overall experience of playing.

Discussion questions

  1. Kids: Why do you think your parent has encouraged you to play sports? Parent: what’s the real answer
  2. Athlete: Why do you play sports, and what do you enjoy most about it? Parents if you played sports what did you love most? what do you love about watching your kid play the current sport that they're playing?
  3. What do you think you can accomplish through sports, and how can I help?
  4. Together: Are there any changes we could make to your sports experience to make it more enjoyable or meaningful?

"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.

And don’t forget to join my newsletter at www.confidentcalmclutch.com/newsletter for exclusive tips, tools, and updates or buy my book Confident, Calm and Clutch: How to build confidence and mental toughness for young athletes using sports psychology on Amazon. Together, we can help young athletes thrive in sports, school, and life. See you next time!"

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About the Podcast

Car Ride Conversations
Conversation prompts for building mentally tough young athletes while you drive
Confident, Calm, and Clutch Car Ride Conversations – the ultimate podcast for parents, coaches, and young athletes who want to unlock the secrets to mental toughness, confidence, and resilience. Whether you're on your way to practice, a big game, or just tackling the daily grind, these bite-sized episodes are designed to spark meaningful conversations to equip young athletes with actionable tools to thrive in school, sports and life while building strong relationships with their parents, one car ride at a time.

Hosted by Valerie Alston, former D1 athlete, sport psychology expert, and resilience coach, each episode dives into key topics like building self-belief, staying calm under pressure, and bouncing back from setbacks. With real-life stories, practical tips, and relatable insights, you'll discover how to support your athlete's journey while strengthening your connection along the way.

Buckle up and join us for a ride full of inspiration, growth, and the skills needed to become Confident, Calm, and Clutch!
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About your host

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Valerie Alston

Drawing from a rich background as a former D1 softball player and a Certified Mental Performance Consultant, she boasts over 15 years of experience dedicated to teaching and training Soldiers in the intricate art of mental toughness and resilience. As a distinguished author and coach, she brings a unique perspective to the realm of performance enhancement. Currently, her passion lies in empowering today's youth, leveraging her expertise to build and foster resilience through sports and mental toughness training, ensuring the next generation thrives in both their athletic pursuits and broader life challenges. With a comprehensive approach to athlete development, she extends her expertise to parents and coaches. Committed to enhancing understanding, she collaborates with them to impart valuable insights on building the mental toughness of young athletes, fostering an environment that nurtures resilience and unleashes their full potential.