Cracking the Code: How to Give Feedback to Competitive Youth Athletes without Destroying Confidence with Tami Matheny

In this episode, I sit down with Tami Matheny, a renowned Mental Game Coach, author, and certified Jon Gordon trainer, to explore one of the trickiest aspects of youth sports: giving feedback to competitive kids.

Tami draws on her deep experience working with athletes across a wide range of sports—including soccer—to offer practical, research-backed advice for parents and coaches alike.

We dive into:

• The fine line between encouragement and pressure
• How to tailor your feedback based on your child’s personality and mindset
• Why confidence is the foundation of performance—and how you might be unintentionally undermining it
• The right (and wrong) time to give feedback after games
• Specific strategies for helping young athletes want to hear and apply your feedback

Tami also shares her personal story of struggling with confidence as a young athlete and how that journey sparked her passion for helping others master the mental side of sports. Whether you're a parent on the sidelines or a coach on the field, this episode will give you a new lens for supporting your athlete’s growth.