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Kate McCauley and Jon Giesbrecht discuss mental toughness and performance techniques, focusing on how athletes can manage pressure and improve their game through mental readiness and breath work.

Keywords: mental toughness, performance techniques, breath work, athlete management, pressure management

Takeaways: Mental readiness is key to performance. Breathwork helps regulate emotions. Trust building is essential for athletes. Integrating mental practices into routines is beneficial. Small mental shifts lead to big performance changes. Mental techniques can be simple yet effective. Athletes need recovery windows during games. Mental performance impacts overall life quality. Coaches should incorporate mental training. Mental toughness is a continuous journey.

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CONNECT with Kate McCauley: IG https://www.instagram.com/the.champion_within

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-mccauley-danu

Book a Mindset Training Appointment: https://shop.danunow.com

Kate McCauley's website https://www.kate-mccauley.com

CONNECT with Jon Giesbrecht:

https://www.instagram.com/playfreebball/

Skool community: https://www.skool.com/playfreebball/about

Free Your Mind: Journal on Amazon: https://a.co/d/j278ILU

In this episode, Kate McCauley emphasizes the importance of mental toughness in sports, drawing insights from the Indiana Hoosiers' coaching strategies. She discusses how mental performance training is integrated into the athletes' daily routines, reinforcing their skills and keeping them grounded during high-pressure situations. McCauley highlights the significance of focusing on small, specific moments in games, which helps athletes respond reliably rather than emotionally when it matters most. She also shares practical advice for coaches on how to communicate effectively with their teams, particularly in avoiding distractions from external noise, which she refers to as 'rat poisoning.'

Throughout the conversation, McCauley stresses that true championship cultures are built on consistent training and accountability rather than hype or external validation. She encourages coaches and athletes alike to focus on their internal standards and the process of preparation, reminding them that success comes from deep training and mental discipline. The episode concludes with a call to action for listeners to reflect on the influences they allow into their lives and to prioritize their mental fortitude in pursuit of excellence.

Keywords: mental toughness, coaching strategies, Indiana Hoosiers, sports psychology, athlete performance, championship culture, rat poisoning, focus, accountability, training

Book a mindset training team workshop, school assembly or speaking engagement: https://shop.danunow.com/s/appointments

CONNECT with Kate McCauley:

IG https://www.instagram.com/the.champion_within

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-mccauley-danu

Book a Mindset Training Appointment: https://shop.danunow.com

Kate McCauley's website https://www.kate-mccauley.com

Book a mindset training team workshop, school assembly or speaking engagement: https://shop.danunow.com/s/appointments

Youth sports are supposed to build confidence, resilience, and be fun, but for many kids, they’ve become a source of stress and burnout. In this episode, I sit down with journalist and author Harvey Araton to unpack what’s gone wrong in the youth sports industry and what we can do to fix it. We explore how sports culture has shifted over the years, what today’s youth athletes are really up against, and how parents can support healthy athlete development without adding more pressure.

You’ll walk away with a clearer understanding of how to protect your child’s mental health and keep the true benefits of sports front and center.

Guest: Harvey Araton is a journalist and author whose latest book focuses on the state of youth sports. Drawing on his extensive experience as a sports journalist, he brings a deep, informed perspective on how youth sports have evolved, where the system is failing kids, and what needs to change to better support families and young athletes.

In This Episode: We start by looking at how youth sports have changed over the years from local, community-based teams to a high-pressure, high-cost machine that often mirrors professional sports. Harvey and I talk about how this shift impacts kids, families, and coaches, and what gets lost when winning, rankings, and exposure become more important than development, fun, and growth.

Resources: Grab your copy of Harvey Araton’s new book The Goal of The Game on youth sports (mentioned in this episode).

IG https://www.instagram.com/the.champion_within

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-mccauley-danu

Book a Mindset Training Appointment: https://shop.danunow.com

Kate McCauley's website https://www.kate-mccauley.com

https://www.harveyaraton.com/ https://www.instagram.com/harveyjaraton/ https://www.facebook.com/harvey.araton

If this conversation resonated with you, subscribe wherever you listen so you don’t miss future episodes on youth sports, parenting, and performance. Share this episode with another parent, coach, or youth athlete who might be feeling the weight of today’s sports culture and could use a fresh, healthier perspective.