The Mental Edge Blog

If We Want Our Kids to Grow, We Have to Be Willing to Grow Too

By Shaun Goodsell

I've heard some version of this from sports parents for nearly three decades.

"I know I shouldn't say anything after...

There was a moment I’ll never forget.

I was leading a group of teenagers, and week after week we had been talking about something that mattered far more than behavior or performance. We were learning...

I’ll never forget the weekend Steve showed up.

We were taking a group of middle school and high school students away for a winter retreat. Everyone had been preparing for weeks—packing bags, makin...

The Simplicity We’ve Forgotten
 

Youth sports is changing.

Every year we hear new language about mental performance, emotional intelligence, resilience, psychological safety, and athlete development....

I believe we have misdiagnosed one of the greatest challenges facing our generation.

We talk about a mental health crisis. An anxiety epidemic. A loneliness epidemic. A crisis of identity. A crisis o...

As athletes, we're taught to be independent. Push harder. Figure it out. Don't complain. Stay mentally tough. Handle your business.

For years, we wear those lessons like a badge of honor. We convince...

For years, we've been taught that if you want to improve mentally, you hire a coach. One athlete. One coach. One conversation.

I believe in one-on-one coaching. It creates space for personalized feed...

Introduction

Psychological safety is the belief that it is safe to take risks, make mistakes, ask questions, and be vulnerable without fear of humiliation, embarrassment, or punishment. For young ath...

A Story to Begin

Before Michael Phelps became the most decorated Olympian in history, he battled doubt and anxiety. In interviews, Phelps has spoken openly about periods when his inner dialogue turne...

How Youth Athletics Prepare Us for a Lifetime of Personal Development, Connection, and Purpose

Most athletes spend years preparing for a game without realizing they are simultaneously preparing for l...

Winning games is exciting. Championships create lasting memories. But long after the final whistle blows, what young athletes remember most is how they felt as part of your team.

Did they feel valued...

The Transformational Power of Growing Together

Over the past 27 years, I have had the privilege of working with thousands of athletes. I've coached athletes who won championships, earned scholarships...