Episode 47

full
Published on:

1st Dec 2025

The 24-Hour Rule for Post-Performance Reflection

Unlock Your Athlete's Potential: The 24-Hour Rule for Post-Performance Reflection

Join host Valerie Alston in this insightful episode of 'Car Ride Conversations for Sports Families,' where she introduces the 24-hour rule to help athletes move past their performances—both good and bad. Learn how to use an effective post-performance review process to build confidence, stay motivated, and focus on future growth. Valerie discusses the importance of experiencing emotions, transitioning to evaluation, and finally, taking action. Explore five key areas to reflect on after every game or practice: competence builders, confidence builders, goal review, mental game plan, and game strategy. Whether you're a parent or an athlete, understand how to make these reflections a quick habit and explore practical examples. Subscribe, share, and take your athletic performance to the next level!


00:00 Introduction to the 24 Hour Rule

00:29 Welcome to Car Ride Conversations

01:00 Understanding the 24 Hour Rule

01:47 Emotional Reflection and Evaluation

04:38 Post Performance Review Process

05:03 Five Key Areas of Reflection

10:42 Moving from Reflection to Action

14:23 Engaging in the 24 Hour Rule

18:55 Final Thoughts and Encouragement




Discussion questions:

  1. What went well for you today — what part of your performance are you genuinely proud of?
  2. If you had to pick one thing to improve on next time, what would it be and why?
  3. After your 24 hours are up, what’s one thing you want to focus on moving forward?
  4. How can we make your post-performance review a quick, positive habit after games or practices? How and where will you record it?



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.

For exclusive tips, tools, and updates join my newsletter at www.confidentcalmclutch.com/newsletter 

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

If you are a coach looking for ways to build mental toughness into your practices then check out my coaching resources (books, assessments, conversation starters, community and more) here.


Parents join my Facebook group to Help Your Athlete Gain Mental Toughness for Parents

Have an idea for a topic? Submit your idea here.

Questions? Comments? Ideas? Email me: valerie.alston@valstoncoaching.com

Follow Me on:

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Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@valstoncoaching9666


Watch every episode of Car Ride Conversations here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOjguEFjF88w5Wl-eA9dlkwLk7f_sI12V 

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About the Podcast

Car Ride Conversations For Sports Families
Conversation prompts for building mentally tough young athletes while you drive
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 effective self-talk, 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!

Questions? Comments? Ideas?
✉️ Email me: valerie.alston@valstoncoaching.com

Follow Me On:
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valstoncoaching
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/valstoncoaching
▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@valstoncoaching9666

✨ For exclusive tips, tools, and updates, join my newsletter:
📬 https://www.confidentcalmclutch.com/newsletter


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About your host

Profile picture for Valerie Alston

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.