Episode 9

full
Published on:

10th Mar 2025

Opening Day Mindset—Starting the Season Strong

Starting Strong: Setting the Right Mindset for a New Season

In this episode of Confident Common Clutch Car Ride Conversations, host Valerie Alston provides parents and young athletes with strategies to build mental toughness, resilience, and confidence as they begin a new sports season. She focuses on mental preparation, visualization techniques, setting effective goals, and managing expectations. Valerie also shares dialogue prompts for parents and athletes to discuss their goals and support each other in maintaining a balanced perspective. Join us to make your car rides more meaningful and strengthen relationships while fostering lifelong skills.

00:00 Introduction to Confident Car Ride Conversations

00:34 Opening Day Mindset: Starting the Season Strong

02:12 Mental Preparation and Visualization Techniques

06:26 Setting Effective Goals for the Season

10:33 Managing Early Season Expectations and Pressures

14:41 Dialogue Prompts for Parents and Athletes

18:04 Conclusion and Additional Resources

Discussion questions:

  1. Athlete: How do you mentally prepare for the excitement and nerves associated with the start of a new season?​ Follow-up: Can you share specific techniques that help you stay focused during high-pressure moments?​
  2. Parent: Reflecting on your own experiences, how have you managed the anticipation of beginning a new project or phase in life?​Follow-up: What strategies did you use to set positive goals and handle early expectations?​
  3. Together: Discuss the importance of setting both short-term and long-term goals at the start of a season. How can these goals influence performance and motivation?​ Follow-up: How can we support each other in maintaining a balanced perspective on expectations and pressures?



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


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

Next Episode All Episodes Previous Episode

Listen for free

Show artwork for Car Ride Conversations

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!
Support This Show

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.