Episode 6

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Published on:

17th Feb 2025

How to Build Your Champion Support Team

Topic: How to Build Your Champion Support Team

Today's episode focuses on creating a 'champion support team' by surrounding athletes with supportive parents, coaches, teachers, and peers. Alston explains the psychological need for belonging and how a strong support network can help athletes and their families achieve their goals and maintain balance. She shares practical tips on showing gratitude, cultivating resilience, and ensuring authenticity in relationships. The episode concludes with questions for parents and young athletes to spark conversations about their own support networks and how to strengthen them.

00:00 Welcome to Confident, Calm, and Clutch Car Ride Conversations

00:26 Building Your Champion Support Team

01:03 The Importance of Belonging and Relationships

02:52 Choosing the Right People for Your Support Network

08:37 Expressing Gratitude and Authenticity

11:48 Discussion Questions for Parents and Athletes

14:19 Conclusion and Next Steps

Discussion questions:

  1. Who is currently part of your Champion Support Team, and how do they support you?
  2. How can you show gratitude to the people who help and support you?
  3. Have you ever felt that someone in your life was holding you back? How did you handle it?
  4. How can we, as a family, strengthen our support for each other?

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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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.