BEYOND COACHING'S mission is to empower young athletes to unlock their full mental potential and achieve success in life and in sport. Through a comprehensive and personalized approach to mental training, I am committed to helping youth athletes develop the resilience, focus, and emotional intelligence needed to thrive. I strive to create a supportive community that fosters growth, self-awareness, and the cultivation of a positive mindset.
Youth sports from the athlete, coach, and parent's perspectives.
I coached gymnastics for 20 years. I think it is one of the best professions in the world, second only to being a parent. Working with young athletes is an honor and privilege, and a job one should never take lightly. When I started coaching, I wanted to build a successful program that would allow both athletes and coaches to have fun. I learned so much from the athletes. More than I could have ever taught them.
As a young gymnast, coaching methods were very different. They were the norm, and some of those methods would not be allowed today. When I became a coach, I took my own experiences as an athlete and copied what I liked about certain coaching styles. I examined what I struggled with and tried to understand the reasons why the methods didn't work and made changes to achieve positive results.
When I became a parent of an athlete, I learned even more about coaching. From a parent’s view, I gained a whole new understanding of what things are most important when it comes to one’s child. It gave me a whole new perspective and I became a better coach because of it.
Over the years, I learned the relationship between the parent, athlete, and coach is the foundation of an athlete’s youth sport experience. Everyone needs to understand there are 3 sides to every one of those experiences.
WHAT IS CBT & WHY DO I USE IT WITH ATHLETES?
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a widely used and effective approach in the field of counseling and psychotherapy. It's a structured, goal-oriented form of therapy that focuses on identifying and challenging negative thought patterns and behaviors to promote emotional well-being and personal growth.
Negative thought patterns can affect athletes' performance and overall well-being. These patterns can manifest in various ways and can be detrimental to an athlete's confidence, motivation, and success. Here are some common negative thought patterns in athletes:
1. **Self-Doubt:** Athletes may doubt their abilities, question their skills, or fear failure. This can lead to a lack of self-confidence, which can affect performance.
2. **Perfectionism:** Some athletes have an all-or-nothing mentality, where they believe that anything less than perfection is a failure. This can create immense pressure and anxiety.
3. **Catastrophizing:** Athletes might exaggerate the potential negative outcomes of a situation, such as thinking that a small mistake will lead to a disastrous performance or career-ending consequences.
4. **Comparison:** Constantly comparing oneself to others, especially those who are perceived as more successful, can lead to feelings of inadequacy and inferiority.
5. **Overthinking:** Overanalyzing every aspect of performance, technique, or strategy can lead to paralysis by analysis and disrupt an athlete's flow.
6. **Negative Self-Talk:** Using derogatory language and criticism towards oneself can be highly damaging. Athletes who engage in negative self-talk often reinforce their doubts and insecurities.
7. **Fear of Failure:** The fear of making mistakes or losing can be paralyzing for athletes. It can prevent them from taking risks and performing at their best.
8. **Attribution Errors:** Some athletes attribute success to luck and failure to their own shortcomings, which can lead to a sense of helplessness.
9. **Burnout:** Overtraining and pushing oneself too hard without proper rest can lead to physical and mental exhaustion, which in turn can create negative thought patterns.
10. **Injury-Related Anxiety:** Athletes who have experienced injuries may develop anxiety and fear about getting injured again, affecting their performance and confidence.
11. **Social Anxiety:** Athletes may feel anxious or self-conscious in social situations, especially when they perceive judgment from coaches, teammates, or spectators.
12. **Lack of Goal Setting:** Without clear, achievable goals, athletes may feel directionless and struggle to stay motivated.
Addressing negative thought patterns in athletes is crucial for their mental well-being and performance. Strategies such as mindfulness, cognitive-behavioral therapy, positive self-talk, goal setting, and seeking support from sports psychologists or mental coaches can help athletes identify and overcome these patterns, ultimately improving their mental resilience and athletic performance.
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"Working hard for something we don't care about is called stress; working hard for something we love is called passion."
-Simon Sinek
Hi, I am Billie
A former coach and gymnastics club owner.
I am a 50 year old mother of 4 with a husband I have been married to since 2003. I grew up in a suburb, outside the Kansas City metro area, with my parents and 2 sisters. I attended Oklahoma State University where I earned a bachelors degree in Family Science and Child Development. I graduated in the Spring of 1997 and moved back to the KC area.
In 1999, I began my coaching journey in my family's gymnastics club. I had done competitive gymnastics as a child for 14 years. I never dreamed I would become a coach, but I fell in love with the "job" and the sport again. It became my life and passion for 20 years.
A new chapter in my life has begun and my passion is now to educate athletes, coaches, and parents on the mental side of sports. I have gone back to graduate school for clinical and school counseling and I have also worked to become certified as a Mindset Coach for athletes. I want to share what I had learned through my schooling, training, and from the years of working with thousands of athletes and parents.
Always Makes Me Smile
