⚡️Male coaches—what you don’t know about periods impacts her game. Ignoring it? That’s costing performance. Grab more coaching tools and our free training → https://coachfreetraining.com

If you’ve ever felt unsure about how to talk about periods or worried about how it affects your athletes’ performance, this video is for you. I break down how the menstrual cycle impacts energy, mood, and focus—and share practical ways coaches can support athletes so they thrive in every phase.

I’m Coach Bre—mental performance coach for girl athletes, Co-Founder of The Elite Competitor, and a long-time head volleyball coach & 4x state champion. 💪🏽🏆

In this episode we tackle an “uncomfortable topic” head-on: the menstrual cycle. You’ll learn practical Coaching Tips, coach-athlete communication strategies, and sports psychology tools that translate to confidence, smarter training, and better game-day results. Yes—periods and performance are connected.

🎯 What you’ll learn

•The 4 phases of the menstrual cycle (menstrual, follicular, ovulation, luteal) & how they impact her performance

•Effective communication strategies: what to say, what not to say, and how to respect boundaries 🙅‍♂️

•Athlete check-ins that build trust and empower without overstepping

•Nutrition & recovery basics that minimize symptoms and support consistent play

•Low-lift adjustments: stocked med kits, cycle awareness, and partnering with female staff

🕓 Key Moments

00:00 Introduction: Addressing the Uncomfortable Topics

00:24 The Importance of Understanding the Menstrual Cycle

01:07 Real-World Example: US Women's Soccer Team

01:59 Breaking Down the Menstrual Cycle

04:33 Phase 1: Menstrual Phase

08:18 Phase 2: Follicular Phase

09:35 Phase 3: Ovulation

10:49 Phase 4: Luteal Phase

13:59 Empowering Athletes and Coaches

💬 Quick coaching scripts

•“Control what you can today—fuel, water, sleep, recovery—we’ve got your back.”

•“If you need a quick reset, tap me during a drill. We’ll adjust reps and keep your quality high.”

•“Our med kit has what you need—no questions asked.”

📌 Save-worthy reminders

•Don’t ask: “Are you about to start your period?”

•Do say: “Tell me what you have today—let’s compete with that.”

•Track + plan: athletes who track cycles can better time recovery, nutrition, and mental routines.

•Mental skills matter every phase: breathwork, visualization, and self-talk = clearer decisions under stress.

📢 Coaches—comment below: Have you noticed periods impacting performance on your team?

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🔥 Keep building your toolbox

•🔹 Grab our FREE training for coaches → https://coachfreetraining.com

•🔹 Learn more about Plug & Play Elite Mental Game → https://elitecompetitor.com/plugplayemg

•🔹 Follow us on IG → @elitecompetitorcoach

Head to coachfreetraining.com to grab our free training for coaches to quickly level-up your team's mental game!