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/

In this episode of Untapped Stories, we sit down with former Boston College walk-on Steve Perpiglia - a player who didn’t just fight his way onto a Division I roster… he earned a scholarship for his senior year. That kind of leap doesn’t happen by luck, and Steve breaks down the mindset behind it.

Because if you spend any time around youth sports or the recruiting world today, you hear the same question again and again:

“How do I earn a scholarship?”

Most athletes think the answer is to specialize early. Or to master one skill. Or to hope a coach “discovers” them. But Steve flips that entire narrative. His answer is simple, honest, and rooted in real experience: Versatility.

Throughout his college career, Steve watched the landscape shift — rosters changing year to year, systems evolving, and competition ramping up with every recruiting class. But instead of trying to be the best at one narrow skill, he focused on becoming the type of player coaches need when everything hits the fan.

Because at the end of the day, coaches trust athletes who can adapt. They trust players who fill multiple roles, defend multiple positions, and stay valuable no matter what the situation demands. As Steve says, being versatile isn’t optional anymore — it’s a requirement.

And this conversation goes way deeper than earning a scholarship. We talk about the parts of player development young athletes overlook all the time:

- Why the transfer portal has reshaped what college coaches look for

- How versatility makes you “unbenchable” when the roster gets tight

- Why being a specialist is risky in today’s game

- The difference between being talented and being reliable

- What separates walk-ons who stay walk-ons from those who earn real opportunities

- How adaptability becomes a competitive weapon at the college level

- Why athleticism, communication, and coachability matter more than highlight reels

- What Steve wishes he knew at 15 about development and exposure

His story is a reminder that growth isn’t linear. It’s not scripted. And it’s definitely not guaranteed. You earn opportunities by becoming the solution — not by waiting for the perfect role or the perfect moment.

At Athletes Untapped, we believe great coaching doesn’t just sharpen skills. It builds resilient, adaptable athletes who take ownership of their development — exactly the mindset Steve used to turn a walk-on opportunity into a scholarship.

🎙️ Untapped Stories is presented by https://athletesuntapped.com — the nation’s #1 platform for private sports coaching. Our mission is to help athletes reach their full potential by connecting them with great coaches who elevate both skill and mindset.

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

In this episode of Untapped Stories, we sit down with Abby Kenkelen - our of our best coaches and a standout on Brandeis' Women’s Soccer team - who just wrapped up a season averaging 60+ minutes per game. That kind of consistency doesn’t happen by accident… and Abby will be the first to tell you why.

Because if you spend any time around youth sports today, you hear the same question over and over:

“How do I earn more playing time?”

Most athletes think the answer is politics. Or talent. Or hoping the coach just notices them. But Abby flips that mindset completely. Her message to young players is simple, direct, and incredibly refreshing: Speak up.

Throughout her career, whenever her minutes dipped or she felt unsure about her role, Abby didn’t complain, guess, or hope things would magically change. She asked her coach for 3–4 specific things she needed to improve. And then she went all-in on those details until the boxes were checked.

Because at the end of the day, coaches respect athletes who take ownership. They respect players who ask for clarity, pursue feedback, and put in intentional work instead of excuses. And Abby insists on something most athletes never hear: If you attack the feedback, your coach will have no choice but to give you an opportunity.

But this conversation goes way deeper than playing time.

We talk about the power of mentorship — a theme that has shaped Abby’s entire journey as both a college athlete and now a private coach on Athletes Untapped. Abby explains why 1v1 coaching matters far beyond the skill work you see on the surface. Private training teaches responsibility. It accelerates confidence. It forces athletes to own their development instead of outsourcing it.

Abby also dives into the parts of player development young athletes overlook all the time:

- The difference between “working hard” and working deliberately

- How to approach feedback without getting defensive

- Why every athlete should build a relationship with their coach

- What separates players who consistently see the field from those who don’t

- How mentorship unlocks growth that team practices alone can’t provide

- Why the best competitors she knows take notes, ask questions, and chase accountability

- How 1v1 coaching fast-tracks maturity both on and off the field

Her story is a reminder that development isn’t passive. It’s intentional. It’s uncomfortable. It’s earned through humility, communication, and consistent effort — long before the whistle blows.

At Athletes Untapped, we believe great coaching transforms more than skills. It builds leaders. It builds confidence. And it builds athletes who take ownership of their path — exactly the mindset Abby brings to every session she coaches.

🎙️ Untapped Stories is presented by https://athletesuntapped.com — the nation’s #1 platform for private sports coaching. Our mission is to help athletes reach their full potential by connecting them with great coaches who elevate both skill and mindset.

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

In this episode of Untapped Stories, we sit down with someone who sees youth sports through a lens every parent needs to hear: Cari, the longtime soccer mom behind https://www.instagram.com/soccermomsunfiltered/ — a voice known for honesty, humor, and a refreshingly grounded perspective on what kids actually need from us.

Because if you’ve been around youth sports long enough, you’ve seen it…the pressure, the comparison, the scoreboard parenting. The subtle ways parents turn their goals into their kid’s burden. Most of it comes from love — wanting the best, wanting them to succeed, wanting to give them every opportunity.

But Cari shared the reminder that stops you in your tracks: it’s your child’s dream, not yours. And how you show up as a parent can either protect that dream… or unintentionally crush it.

Cari has been through the travel teams, the tryouts, the wins, the heartbreaks, the sideline dynamics, and the rollercoaster of raising a young athlete in a world that never seems to slow down. And what she’s learned is simple but powerful: youth sports should be a place where kids feel supported, not steered. Lifted, not pushed. A place where they can fall in love with the game on their own terms.

But this conversation goes far deeper than “don’t be a pushy parent.”

Cari breaks down what young athletes desperately need from the people in the stands:

- Encouragement that feels unconditional.

- Positivity that doesn’t depend on performance.

- A home environment where mistakes aren’t met with analysis, but support.

- A car ride home that doesn’t feel like an evaluation meeting.

She opens up about the real challenges parents face today — the comparison culture, the rise of social media, the myth that specializing earlier guarantees success, and the silent fear many parents share: “Am I doing enough for my kid… or am I doing too much?”

And she reminds us why youth sports matter in the first place. Not for scholarships. Not for rankings. Not for highlight reels. But for the moments that shape who a child becomes:

- Learning how to lose with grace.

- Learning how to win with gratitude.

- Learning how to fail, adjust, and try again.

- Learning to love something deeply — even when it’s hard.

Cari has seen firsthand that the athletes who thrive are the ones who feel ownership of their journey. The ones who play because they want to, not because they’re afraid to disappoint someone. The ones who grow up believing the field is a place of joy… not judgment.

This episode covers:

- The silent pressure parents put on kids without realizing it

- Why “it’s your kid’s dream, not yours” might be the most important rule in youth sports

- How to support performance without controlling it

- The difference between pushing and encouraging

- Why positivity — especially during struggle — is a parent’s superpower

- How to help kids stay in love with the game long-term

- What to say (and what not to say) on the car ride home

- Why resentment builds when parents try to drive the journey

- The role of autonomy in kids’ confidence, joy, and development

- How social media and modern competition have changed the parenting experience

Cari’s perspective is a breath of fresh air in a sports world that often feels too loud, too fast, and too heavy. Her message is a reminder that youth sports aren’t just a pathway to performance — they’re a pathway to character.

And the greatest gift a parent can give is not pressure…but presence!

🎙️ Untapped Stories is presented by https://athletesuntapped.com — the nation’s #1 platform for private sports coaching. Our mission is to help athletes reach their full potential by connecting them with great coaches who elevate both skill and mindset.

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

In this episode of Untapped Stories, we sit down with Kayla and Chad Zimmer — two longtime baseball parents who’ve spent years watching the game teach their kids lessons that go far beyond batting averages or win-loss records. And they shared a perspective every parent in youth sports needs to hear.

Most parents obsess over the big questions: Should my kid play rec or travel? Are they falling behind? Are they good enough to “make it” someday?

But Kayla and Chad simplify it better than anyone: if your kid is having fun and it doesn’t feel like a job, they’re exactly where they should be. Travel isn’t automatically better. Rec isn’t automatically easier. Every athlete has a different personality, and the best environment is the one that keeps them loving the game.

From there, we dove into one of the most misunderstood truths in baseball — the role of failure. In school, a 30% on a test means big trouble. In baseball? A 30% success rate at the plate makes you elite. It’s the only sport where failing 70% of the time can still put you in the conversation as one of the best.

And that’s the beauty of it.

Baseball forces kids to handle adversity early and often. Strikeouts, slumps, errors, bad hops, long weekends at the fields… all of it builds resilience, EQ, confidence, and mental toughness. The Zimmers believe that’s the real value of youth sports. Not the trophies. Not the rankings. Not the slim chance at playing professionally — but the real-world reps of falling down, adjusting, and trying again.

This conversation goes deeper than highlights or skill development. We talk about:

• Why rec vs. travel shouldn’t be a status symbol
• How to choose the right environment based on your child, not pressure
• The difference between fun pressure and burnout pressure
• How baseball teaches patience, humility, and emotional regulation
• Why embracing failure is the biggest competitive advantage in the sport
• What parents can model to help their kids build confidence
• Why “making it” isn’t the point — becoming capable is

Kayla and Chad also share the reminders every parent needs: the window for youth sports is incredibly short. The years fly by. The smiles in the dugout, the long car rides, the post-game ice cream — that’s the stuff kids remember. Not their batting average from 11U.

At Athletes Untapped, we believe baseball is one of the greatest teachers in sports. It gives kids a safe place to fail, learn, grow, compete, and build character they’ll lean on for the rest of their lives. And the Zimmers embody exactly why that matters.

🎙️ Untapped Stories is presented by https://athletesuntapped.com — the nation’s #1 platform for private sports coaching. Our mission is to help young athletes reach their full potential through great coaching, great habits, and great experiences in youth sports.

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

In this episode of Untapped Stories, we sit down with Maddie Troyer - a former Division I runner and Head Sports Nutritionist at SMU, now working with the ⁨https://www.instagram.com/nutrition_with_wendi/ team - to break down one of the most overlooked performance factors in youth sports today: in-game fueling.

Most young athletes think fueling is simple: drink water and keep playing. But at higher levels, especially in extreme heat, fast-paced games, or multi-game tournament weekends, water alone might not cut it. Hydration, electrolytes, and quick-access carbs become the difference between finishing strong and hitting the wall.

Maddie explains exactly what most athletes get wrong — and why in-game fueling is about far more than thirst. It’s about maintaining blood glucose, avoiding energy crashes, replacing sodium lost through sweat, and keeping your muscles firing when the game gets tight.

But this conversation goes way deeper than “water vs sports drinks.”

Maddie breaks down the science athletes never learn but desperately need. Things like:

Carb timing, electrolyte balance, sweat rate, recovery windows, and how in-game fueling impacts decision-making, reaction time, and late-game explosiveness. Not fad diets. Not body-image trends. Not the “smaller is better” myth that derails so many young athletes.

She also talks about practical, athlete-friendly options players can actually use: sports drinks, electrolyte packets, gels, chews, honey sticks, applesauce pouches, bananas, pretzels — real fueling solutions that fit in a bag, on a bench, or in a locker.

And for parents, Maddie gives the message every family needs:

Under-fueling isn’t just a nutrition mistake — it’s a performance limiter.

Your athlete might be training hard, but if they’re not fueling right, they’re leaving half their potential on the table.

This episode covers:

- The difference between hydration and fueling (and why athletes need both)

- When water is enough — and when it isn’t

- How to avoid mid-game energy crashes

- Why electrolytes matter more than most athletes realize

- The best quick-carb options for tournaments and long practices

- How fueling impacts speed, decision-making, and stamina

- What parents can do to help their athlete fuel consistently

- Why in-game nutrition is the easiest competitive advantage most players ignore

Maddie’s story is a reminder that great performance isn’t just about training — it’s about energy availability, smart fueling, and respecting what your body needs to compete. The right nutrition can elevate everything: your recovery, your consistency, and your confidence in big moments.

At Athletes Untapped, we believe performance isn’t one-dimensional. Skill, mindset, training, and fueling all play a role in helping athletes reach their full potential. Maddie brings clarity to a topic every athlete and parent should understand.

🎙️ Untapped Stories is presented by https://athletesuntapped.com - the nation’s #1 platform for private sports coaching. Our mission is to help athletes excel through great coaching and great habits, on and off the field.

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