In this episode of Untapped Stories, we sit down with Makenna Marisa — former Penn State standout and current professional basketball player — for a conversation every athlete needs to hear about confidence, self-doubt, and controlling what you can when things don’t go your way.

From the outside, it’s easy to assume that elite athletes never struggle with confidence. They’re talented. They’ve earned scholarships. They’ve gone pro. Surely the doubt disappears at some point, right?

Makenna is quick to shut that idea down.

Even at the highest levels of the game, self-doubt shows up. Shots don’t fall. Minutes fluctuate. Roles change. Pressure increases. And the mental side of the game becomes just as important — if not more important — than the physical.

From there, Makenna breaks down her personal formula for building belief, even on days when doubt creeps in:

- Fake it until you make it — confidence is often built after action, not before it

- Move quickly to the next play — dwelling on mistakes only compounds them

- Always look 200 feet ahead — zoom out, think long-term, and don’t let one moment define you

These ideas sound simple, but anyone who’s competed knows how hard they are to execute in real time — especially after a missed shot, a turnover, or a tough game. Makenna explains that learning to reset quickly and stay forward-focused has been one of the biggest keys to her growth, both as a player and as a person.

Makenna’s journey is a powerful reminder that even the best athletes feel unsure at times — and that’s okay. What matters is how you show up when things aren’t clicking. Defense still matters. Preparation still matters. Being a great teammate still matters.

We also give a shoutout to Makenna for an incredible start to her professional career overseas in Australia. Competing at that level comes with new challenges, new environments, and new pressure — and she’s embracing it head-on.

This episode is a must-listen for athletes who’ve ever questioned themselves after a bad game, parents who want to support confidence the right way, and coaches who believe growth happens when players learn to respond, reset, and keep going.

🎙️ Untapped Stories is presented by https://athletesuntapped.com/ — the nation’s leading platform for private sports coaching. We connect families with elite, vetted coaches to help athletes grow through great instruction, strong habits, and positive sports experiences.

👉 Listen weekly on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, and follow us on Instagram for highlights and full episodes: https://www.instagram.com/athletesuntapped/

In this episode of Untapped Stories, we sit down with Hannah Dickinson — Villanova Women’s Soccer goalkeeper and one of Athletes Untapped’s top coaches — for a conversation every young athlete (and parent) needs to hear.

Playing goalie is one of the most mentally demanding positions in sports. Every mistake is magnified. Every goal feels personal. And there’s no hiding when things go wrong. Hannah knows this better than most — and that’s exactly why her perspective on failure, confidence, and long-term development is so powerful.

Early in the conversation, Hannah opens up about fear of failure — something every athlete faces, but few learn how to manage. She shares how she’s learned not just to tolerate failure, but to use it as a tool for growth. Missed saves, tough games, setbacks, and self-doubt weren’t signs she didn’t belong — they were part of the process of becoming better, tougher, and more resilient.

From there, we dive into a topic that creates anxiety for countless families in youth sports: early dominance. Too many athletes (and parents) believe that if you’re not the best at 11, 12, or 13 — if you’re not nationally ranked or starting every game — your dreams are already slipping away.

Hannah pushes back on that idea completely.

She reminds young players that development is not linear. Many college and professional athletes weren’t early standouts. They were the ones who stayed consistent, kept showing up, pushed through adversity, and refused to quit when things didn’t come easily. As their bodies matured, their confidence grew, and their skills leveled up, they were ready to seize opportunities when they came.

This episode is a powerful reminder that where you start doesn’t determine where you finish — but how you respond to challenges along the way absolutely does.

We also talk about the role parents and coaches play in shaping mindset. Confidence isn’t built by avoiding mistakes. It’s built by learning how to recover from them. Hannah explains why athletes who are allowed to struggle, fail, adjust, and keep going often develop a deeper sense of belief than those who are protected from adversity.

Throughout the episode, Hannah shares insights that apply far beyond soccer or the goalkeeper position. Her lessons resonate with athletes in every sport — especially those who feel behind, overlooked, or unsure if they’re “good enough.”

In this episode, we cover:

- Why every athlete will face failure — and why that’s a good thing

- How goalkeepers manage pressure and bounce back from mistakes

- Why being the best youth player doesn’t matter as much as people think

- The danger of tying confidence to early success or rankings

- How consistency and resilience separate long-term athletes

- What parents can do to support confidence without adding pressure

- Why fear of failure often holds athletes back more than lack of talent

At Athletes Untapped, we believe youth sports should help athletes build confidence, resilience, and self-belief — not fear, comparison, or burnout. Hannah Dickinson embodies exactly what that looks like. Her journey is proof that growth happens when athletes learn to trust the process, embrace challenges, and keep showing up.

🎙️ Untapped Stories is presented by https://athletesuntapped.com — the nation’s leading platform for private sports coaching. We connect families with elite, vetted coaches to help athletes grow through great instruction, strong habits, and positive sports experiences.

Listen weekly on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, and follow us on Instagram for highlights and full episodes: https://www.instagram.com/athletesuntapped/

In this episode of Untapped Stories, we sit down with a https://www.instagram.com/baseballmama_tx/ - seasoned travel baseball mom who shared one of the most honest and nuanced conversations we’ve had about burnout, balance, and what youth sports are really about.

Her perspective challenges a narrative many parents feel pressured by — that playing “too much” automatically leads to burnout. She’s fully aware that her two kids play baseball seven days a week. They live it. They breathe it. Their schedules are packed with practices, games, lessons, and long weekends at the field. And from the outside, it might look intense.

But here’s the part that stops most parents in their tracks: they love it.

They’re the ones asking for extra reps. They’re the ones pushing for more. And as she put it so simply — if the passion is coming from them, why stop?

That insight opens the door to a much deeper conversation about what burnout actually is — and what it isn’t. Burnout isn’t about the number of practices on a calendar. It’s about pressure. It’s about motivation shifting from internal joy to external expectation. It’s about kids feeling like the game is a job instead of a choice.

Throughout this conversation, we break down how parents can stay aware without being fearful. Watching for the real warning signs — chronic fatigue, recurring injuries, emotional withdrawal, or a loss of love for the game — matters far more than counting practices per week. When kids are healthy, smiling, and choosing the grind on their own, competition can be a powerful and positive force.

We also zoom out to the long view. Youth sports move fast. Childhood moves even faster. The early mornings, long drives, post-game talks, and emotional highs and lows don’t just disappear — they become core memories. They shape confidence. They build resilience. And years later, they often become the “good old days” families look back on together.

This episode is for parents who find themselves asking the hard questions: Is this schedule insane? Are we doing too much? Are we pushing too far?

The answer, as always, isn’t black and white. It’s about awareness, communication, and remembering that every child is different. When parents stay tuned into their kids — not rankings, not outside noise — sports can be one of the most powerful tools for growth a child ever experiences.

In this episode, we talk about:

- Why travel sports parents often get a bad rap

- How to distinguish healthy passion from unhealthy pressure

- The real signs of burnout every parent should watch for

- Why motivation matters more than volume

- How sports create lifelong confidence and memories

- Why the “good old days” are happening right now

At Athletes Untapped, we believe youth sports should build kids up — not wear them down. When done the right way, they teach resilience, self-awareness, work ethic, and joy. This conversation is a reminder that the goal isn’t perfection — it’s presence, perspective, and letting kids fall in love with the process.

🎙️ Untapped Stories is presented by https://athletesuntapped.com — the nation’s leading platform for private sports coaching. Our mission is to help young athletes grow through great coaching, healthy competition, and positive experiences in youth sports.

Listen weekly on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, and follow us on Instagram for clips and full episodes: https://www.instagram.com/athletesuntapped/