Thriving Under Pressure: Lessons from Olympic Athletes

In this episode of Car Ride Conversations for Sports Families, host Valerie Alston explores how athletes manage pressure during the Winter Olympics. She discusses why pressure itself isn't the enemy and how interpreting it differently can determine success. Valerie offers insights on mental toughness, resilience, and confidence, with specific examples from Olympic athletes. She provides conversation prompts for parents and young athletes to discuss how to handle high-pressure situations effectively. Tune in for advice on harnessing nerves and focusing on performance rather than outcomes.

00:00 Introduction to Pressure in Sports

01:03 The Winter Olympics: A Case Study

01:28 Understanding Athlete Reactions to Pressure

03:02 Mental Strategies for Handling Pressure

06:41 Youth Sports: Applying Olympic Lessons

11:21 Conversation Prompts for Families

15:28 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Discussion questions:

1. When do you feel pressure most in your sport—and what do you usually tell yourself in those moments?
2. How can feeling nervous actually mean you’re prepared and invested?
3. What’s one phrase you could use to turn pressure into focus?
4. As a parent/coach, how do we talk about pressure without making it heavier?

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

If you are a coach looking for ways to build mental toughness into your practices then check out my coaching resources (books, assessments, conversation starters, community and more) here.

Parents join my Facebook group to Help Your Athlete Gain Mental Toughness for Parents

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

Questions? Comments? Ideas? Email me: valerie.alston@valstoncoaching.com

Follow Me on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valstoncoaching

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/valstoncoaching

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@valstoncoaching9666

Watch every episode of Car Ride Conversations here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOjguEFjF88w5Wl-eA9dlkwLk7f_sI12V

Building Confident, Calm, and Clutch Athletes with Coach Jack Smithlin

In this episode of 'Car Ride Conversations for Sports Families,' host Valerie Alston offers a preview of her new podcast 'The Clutch Academy.' This clip features Jack Smithlin, a coach with over 50 years of experience and an unbeaten record, discussing what it means for athletes to be confident, calm, and clutch. He shares insights on building mental performance, grit, and redefining success to foster resilience and love for the game. Whether you're a parent or a coach, learn valuable strategies to help athletes perform under pressure. Don't miss out on more tips and updates on 'The Clutch Academy' by subscribing to the newsletter!

00:00 Introduction to Clutch Performance

01:48 Meet Coach Jack Smithlin

02:25 Defining Confidence, Calm, and Clutch

03:14 Building Confidence Through Practice

04:32 The Importance of Mental Performance

09:19 Strategies for Coaches

14:24 The Mind-Body Connection

17:41 Car Ride Conversations

20:07 Closing Remarks and Newsletter Sign-Up

Discussion questions:

1. What helps you feel confident going into a game or tryout? Parents: What did confidence look like for you when you were younger?
2. Why do you think being calm helps you play better? What could we do before games or at home to help each other stay calm and focused?
3. Can you remember a time you were “clutch” you stepped up under pressure? What helped you rise to that moment? How can you build that mindset for next time?
4. What do you think matters more to a coach: results or effort? Why? How does that change how you see your role as a teammate or a player?

🎧 Sneak Peek: The Clutch Academy Podcast (Launching 2026!)

In the new year, I’m launching a new podcast called The Clutch Academy where I’ll interview coaches across sports and levels to unpack this core question:

How do great coaches build athletes who are confident, calm, clutch and full of character?

We’ll dive into:

- What they say at practice, after games, and in tough moments

- How they develop leadership and mental resilience

- The strategies they use to help athletes succeed on and off the field

If you’re a coach with something to share or know someone who should be on the mic I’d love to hear from you.

👉 Click here to apply to be a guest on The Clutch Academy

https://valstoncoaching.typeform.com/clutchacademy

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

Embracing Adaptability: Lessons from a Snow Day

This week on Car Ride Conversations for Sports Families, host Valerie Alston shares a personal story about dealing with unexpected snowfall in the South and its parallels to sports challenges. Valerie discusses adaptability, problem-solving, and maintaining humor under pressure. She relates her snow day experience to athletes needing to adjust to adverse conditions and unplanned situations. Listen in for meaningful dialogue about resilience, mental toughness, and confidence-building while exploring engaging conversation starters for parents and young athletes. This episode is perfect for families looking to build stronger relationships and lifelong skills, one car ride at a time.

00:00 Snow Day Struggles and Lessons

00:42 Welcome to Car Ride Conversations

01:15 Creative Snow Shoveling Solutions

03:25 Adapting in Sports and Life

06:33 Humor and Perspective in Problem Solving

11:19 Interactive Car Ride Questions

15:15 Conclusion and Call to Action

Discussion questions:

1. Have you ever had to figure something out on the fly in your sport when things didn’t go as planned?
2. When conditions aren’t ideal — weather, refs, equipment, teammates — what helps you stay focused instead of frustrated?”
3. What’s something that felt harder than expected at first, but got easier once you adjusted?
4. How important do you think it is for athletes to be able to laugh at mistakes or awkward moments?”

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

If you are a coach looking for ways to build mental toughness into your practices then check out my coaching resources (books, assessments, conversation starters, community and more) here.

Parents join my Facebook group to Help Your Athlete Gain Mental Toughness for Parents

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

Questions? Comments? Ideas? Email me: valerie.alston@valstoncoaching.com

Follow Me on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valstoncoaching

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/valstoncoaching

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@valstoncoaching9666

Watch every episode of Car Ride Conversations here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOjguEFjF88w5Wl-eA9dlkwLk7f_sI12V