What happens when the role your team needs from you isn’t the role you wanted? In this episode, Sara and Michelle tackle one of the harder lessons in youth sport: being a great teammate means learning to think beyond yourself. They explore why working hard doesn’t automatically guarantee a starting position, how athletes can get caught in stories about what they “deserve,” and why individual goals can’t come before what the team is trying to accomplish.
Through real coaching experiences, they discuss helping athletes recognize the value they bring—even when they aren’t the star, aren’t playing their preferred position or are coming off the bench. They also look at what it really means to show up for your team, including when you’re injured, disappointed or not getting exactly what you hoped for.
Ultimately, this episode is about moving from “What am I getting?” to “How can I contribute?” Because you don’t have to be the MVP to be incredibly valuable—and learning to embrace your role, support your teammates and be ready when your opportunity comes is a skill that extends far beyond sport.
Top 3 Takeaways
- Get out of your own story and serve the team
- Remember that it’s not always about you
- Value what you bring even if you’re a role player.
www.unstoppableathlete.ca
What is Unstoppable Athlete - Mental Resilience for Teen Athletes?
Sara and Michelle are experienced volleyball coaches who's mission is to empower teen athletes to unlock their full potential - on and off the court - by cultivating growth mindset, building resilience, mastering sports psychology, regulating their nervous systems and setting meaningful, actionable goals.
We want to share experience and stories from young athletes and ex-pros to help young athletes be UNSTOPPABLE in competition and in life.