The Coaching Wisdom Every Sports Parent and Coach Needs – A Conversation with Greg Berge
The Coaching Wisdom Every Sports Parent and Coach Needs – A Conversation with Greg Berge
The Coaching Wisdom Every Sports Parent and Coach Needs – A Conversation with Greg Berge. How do you build a winning team culture? What’s the biggest mistake parents make in youth sports? And why do some of the best players never start?
In this episode, I sit down with Greg Berge—a highly respected high school coach, principal, and leadership expert—who shares game-changing advice for coaches, parents, and athletes.
Greg has spent decades coaching and leading teams, and his insights on coaching philosophy, youth sports culture, and player development are a must-hear. His simple yet powerful approach to leadership has helped thousands of athletes and coaches improve—not just on the field but in life.
What We Cover in This Episode:
✅ How coaching changes over time – What Greg learned after stepping away and returning to coaching
✅ The biggest mistakes parents make – And how they unknowingly hold their kids back
✅ The real reason some teams overachieve – Hint: It’s not just talent
✅ How to fix today’s youth sports culture – Addressing the coach shortage, referee crisis, and player entitlement
✅ Why less is more in coaching – How simplifying your approach leads to better results
✅ The myth of captains vs. leaders – Why the best leaders aren’t always the ones wearing the ‘C’
Greg also shares personal stories about coaching his own kids, what he’s learned from the best teams, and how parents can support their children without overstepping.
If you’re serious about helping young athletes thrive, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.
Follow Greg Berge for More Coaching & Leadership Insights:
📌 Twitter/X: @GB1121
📌 Newsletter & Resources
🎙️ More from I Love to Watch You Play:
👉 Take Back The Game: Restoring Joy in Youth Sports with Linda Flanagan
👉Unlocking the Secrets of Raising Athletes: Insights from a Youth Sports Expert
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Breaking Through Fear and Perfectionism in Youth Sports, with Rebecca Smith
Breaking Through Fear and Perfectionism in Youth Sports, with Rebecca Smith. Why do some kids freeze in sports while others thrive under pressure?
Breaking Through Fear and Perfectionism in Youth Sports. In this episode, I sit down with Rebecca Smith, founder of Complete Performance Coaching and Perform Happy, to discuss the hidden mental struggles of young athletes. A former gymnast who battled fear and self-doubt, Rebecca now helps athletes break through mental blocks, manage pressure, and regain confidence in their sport.
We cover:
Why fear—not lack of effort—is often the real reason kids struggle
How parents may be adding pressure without realizing it
The science behind fight, flight, or freeze many athletes experience in sports
What real mental toughness looks like—and why it’s not just about pushing through
Actionable strategies for parents to help kids build confidence and overcome fear
Chapters:
04:42 Understanding Fear and Mental Blocks in Young Athletes
07:22 The Role of Parents in Athlete Performance
11:31 Mindset Matters: Fixed vs. Growth Mindset
14:45 Overcoming Fear and Anxiety in Sports
18:32 The Perfectionist Athlete: Causes and Solutions
22:49 Recognizing Negative Patterns in Young Athletes
26:55 The Importance of Sleep for Performance
29:40 Pre-Performance Routines: Finding What Works
32:32 In-Game Self-Talk and Recovery Techniques
38:37 Redefining Mental Toughness
If your child has ever hesitated, second-guessed themselves, or lost their love for their sport, this conversation is a must-listen.
📍 Find Rebecca at:
🔹 Confidentgymnast.com
🔹 Instagram: @complete_performance
🎙️ More from I Love to Watch You Play:
👉 Take Back The Game: Restoring Joy in Youth Sports with Linda Flanagan
👉Unlocking the Secrets of Raising Athletes: Insights from a Youth Sports Expert
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From Setbacks to Comebacks: Raising Mentally Tough Athletes With Dr. Rob Bell
From Setbacks to Comebacks: Raising Mentally Tough Athletes With Dr. Rob Bell
From Setbacks to Comebacks: Raising Mentally Tough Athletes With Dr. Rob Bell. How do you help young athletes bounce back after failure? Can you really teach mental toughness, or is it something kids learn by facing adversity? In this episode of I Love to Watch You Play, Asia Mape sits down with Dr. Rob Bell—sports psychologist, author, and advocate for raising resilient, joyful athletes.
Dr. Bell opens up about his own “hinge moment”—a life-changing event that ended his sports career but led to his passion for helping athletes thrive under pressure. He explains why failure is a bruise, not a tattoo, and shares why it’s essential to prepare kids for uncomfortable situations instead of shielding them from challenges.
Parents, this episode is a game-changer. You’ll learn how to:
Shift from “should-ing” on your kids to building their confidence.
Turn mistakes into tools for growth, not roadblocks.
Create an environment where athletes thrive on their terms—not yours.
If you’ve ever wondered how to strike the balance between pushing too hard and not pushing enough, Dr. Bell’s wisdom will resonate deeply. He also shares powerful insights on fear, why kids quit, and how one coach or moment can change everything.
It’s packed with actionable advice and fresh perspectives for anyone raising or coaching young athletes. Don’t miss this conversation, which will transform your approach to sports and parenting.
Resources & Links to Connect with Dr. Rob Bell
🌟 Dr. Rob Bell Official Website
Find Dr. Bell’s books, blog posts, and resources, including his Daily Focus Roadmap with "7 super-fast ways to win the day."
Social Media
📸 Instagram: @drrobbell
🐦 Twitter/X: @drrobbell
Books
📚 Explore Dr. Bell’s impactful books, such as:
Puke and Rally: It’s Not About the Setback, It’s About the Comeback
Don’t Should on Your Kids: Build Their Mental Toughness
I Can't Wait to Be Patient: The Fastest Way to Get There
For a complete list, visit his Books Page on his website.
Free Resources
💡 Download the Daily Focus Roadmap to discover quick strategies for winning the day and sharpening your mental game.
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Take Back the Game: Restoring Joy in Youth Sports With Linda Flanagan
Take Back the Game: Restoring Joy in Youth Sports With Linda Flanagan
Take Back the Game: Restoring Joy in Youth Sports. What if the very thing you thought would set your child up for success is actually causing more harm than good? Today, we’re diving into the world of youth sports with Linda Flanagan, a journalist, coach, and author of Take Back the Game. Linda unpacks how the youth sports industry plays on parents’ fears, pushing competition and pressure at the expense of what sports are truly about—character, connection, and joy.
We’ll explore the seismic shift from kid-driven fun to adult-driven pressure, the emotional highs and lows parents feel on the sidelines, and how societal expectations have transformed sports into a high-stakes rat race. But it’s not all doom and gloom—Linda shares how we can reclaim the magic of sports, give kids agency in their journey, and model a balanced, happy adulthood.
Get ready to rethink everything you know about youth sports. Let’s jump in!
Follow Linda on Instagram
Email Linda
Linda on X
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Unlocking the Secrets of Raising Athletes: Insights from a Youth Sports Expert
Unlocking the Secrets of Raising Athletes: Insights from a Youth Sports Expert
Unlocking the Secrets of Raising Athletes: Insights from a Youth Sports Expert. Linda Martindale may be one of the most qualified youth sports experts we've had on the podcast. Her father was a coach, she played D1 basketball. All four of her kids play collegiate sports—basketball, beach volleyball, skiing, soccer, and Lacrosse. She is the head coach of a men's high school varsity basketball team, has a podcast where she speaks to athletes about overcoming challenges, and also happens to be an athlete mental wellness coach!
This is one you don't want to miss.
We discuss reframing pressure as a privilege. Normalizing female athlete jealousy - how it brings unnecessary shame and why we need to accept it as competition and use it as motivation. We also talk about why when an athlete quits, this is a normal reaction to hard things and why Linda considers herself a quitter. Linda shares the superpowers female athletes need, how to conquer performance anxiety, and how to teach our kids to be hungry - even if they have never missed a meal.
You can find Linda, her Podcast, how to work with her, and all her socials on her website, MartindaleCoaching.com.
Listen to more great podcasts:
Bring Back The Joy! Coach Ballgame Is Changing The Way We Coach Our Youth Athletes.
George Mumford: How Mindfulness Can Help Your Athlete
Tony Snethen: Good Enough: 45 Minutes that will change YOUR life.
Max Rooke: Pepperdine's Associate Women's Soccer Coach: Performing, Playing, and Living Life To The Max.
Katie Wood: The Author of a Simple Seed. A book that will change your athlete's life.
South Africa