[Athlete Tip] How to Rewire Your Brain for Confidence Mid-Game

💔 You know the moment: a few mistakes, slumped shoulders, glazed eyes, and she whispers, “I just can’t today.” 🧠 Her brain isn’t sabotaging her. It’s protecting her. Negative self-talk triggers the Reticular Activating System (RAS), making her believe the mistakes are true. ⚡ The Snapback Routine – quick mid-game reset:Deep breath 🌬️Reset word 🔁 (Focus, Go, Play)Physical cue ✋ (tap leg, snap fingers, high-five) 😊 Confidence doesn’t need fake positivity. Neutral self-talk like “Next play” or “See the ball” keeps her grounded. 🤝 Supporting a teammate also helps—eye contact 👀, high-fives 🙌, or quick encouragement 💬 shift her brain out of panic. ❤️ As a Mom: You can’t fix every spiral, but you can equip her with tools to reset, bounce back, and stay confident under pressure. 🔍 Next Step: Try our free Athlete Confidence Quiz ✨ elitecompetitor.com/athlete to discover her competitor style, where she spirals, and tools to build mental strength. 🎧 For weekly tips, listen to the Raising Elite Competitors Podcast and explore The Elite Mental Game Program 💪. Episode Highlights:  [00:00:00] Coach Bre shares a real-time moment from a recent volleyball tournament — the exact second a talented athlete spiraled after saying the four words that derailed her entire game. [00:00:25] See how one negative statement (“I just can’t play today”) triggered hesitation, fear, and a full-game confidence collapse — and why our daughters’ words matter more than they realize. [00:01:20] Learn what the brain’s Reticular Activating System (RAS) does when an athlete says “I can’t”… and how it works against her performance completely unintentionally. [00:01:59] Discover a better mid-game response: why mistakes are normal — and how athletes can train themselves to rebound without spiraling. [00:02:20] Meet the Snapback Routine: a simple, powerful pattern interrupt athletes inside The Elite Mental Game use to stop the mental freefall and shift back into confidence. [00:02:49] Get examples of real reset words athletes choose (“present,” “focus,” “go,” “play,” “free”) and how pairing it with breath + a physical cue instantly centers them. [00:03:40] Tips for staying present without pretending everything is perfect — and why the next play is always the most important one. [00:04:23] See how physical touch (high fives, eye contact) and focusing on teammates help athletes snap out of overthinking and return to the present. [00:04:55] Coach Bre’s core message: delete “I can’t” from your daughter’s vocabulary — it’s not that she can’t, it’s that her brain is trying to protect her. [00:05:20] Why mindset is your daughter’s competitive advantage — and how a strong mental game can beat equal physical talent every time. [00:05:40] Next steps for athletes who want to learn their personal competitor style and dive deeper into mental training tools. Next Steps:For athletes who want to learn more about how to strengthen their mental gameJoin our FREE Training for Sports Moms - How to Strengthen Your Athlete Daughter"s Mental Game so She Believes in Herself as Much as You DoVisit our podcast website for more great episodes Thank you in advance for joining us on our mission and leaving a rating and review on Apple Podcasts.