Advice from a Athletic Mental Health Therapist Performance Anxiety  The first thing Ill say here is that it is totally OK to be nervous before you play. We spend a lot of time telling athletes to “not” be nervous but it actually makes a lot of sense that you WOULD get nervous before you play! Often times this resistance to getting nervous or not wanting to get nervous amplifies what you are feeling  Start by checking out this post: I encourage all my athletes to gauge or assess how their performance anxiety is impacting them. You can do this alone, with a teammate, coach ..read more

I want to tell you a secret. As a former USWNT player and the first player in Washington Spirit history to have her jersey retired, I want to let you in on what has been my edge: My MINDSET.  It is truly what has separated me and my fellow USWNT stars on our quest to authentic excellence. Today, as a keynote speaker, coach, and performance ignitor, it is still what I eat and breathe every day of my life.  While I impact people of all ages, there is a special group who is close to my heart, the teenage female athlete.  I think about my 14-year old self. That young Jo, determined ..read more

 Sofia Huerta  Mal Pugh   Alessia Russo Savannah DeMelo    Emily Fox  Savannah DeMelo   ..read more

Dear Cleats, First off, I would like to officially apologize to you. I am sorry you smelled so wretched. I probably should have let you air out a few times a week instead of shoving you to the bottom of my sports bag to spread the stench to the innocent sweatshirts I had carelessly left in there. But while the smell was truly terrible, any whiff of stinky sports equipment now immediately brings back a flood of memories that all center around you. When you first came into my life, we were both small and absolutely clueless to what we were getting ourselves into. I could barely tie your laces t ..read more

Click the players name to listen to their podcast with incredible advice from personal experience!  Alyssa Thompson  Aubrey Kingsbury  Alyssa Naeher      Lynn Williams   Emily Fox    Sofia Huerta Andi Sullivan Sophia Smith Kelly O'Hara Kristie Mewis Savannah DeMelo     Ashley Sanchez   Trinity Rodman Casey Murphy     ..read more

  #1. 153. Kristie Mewis - USWNT & Gotham FC- The Ultimate Comeback On this episode, Kristie Mewis tells us about her comeback onto the US Women's National Team after a really bad ACL injury. Anything is possible when you believe in yourself, put in the work, and get back out on the field with a whole new appreciation for the game. #2. 138. Bella Bixby - Portland Thorns, USWNT & Oregon State On this episode with Portland Thorn's keeper, Bella Bixby, we chat about her ACL injury and how she came back from it stronger than ever, while being more aware of body mechanics ..read more

24 UNDENIABLE SIGNS YOU'RE A SOCCER PLAYER The symptoms and signs are all there. You can't deny it! You're a full blown soccer player.  #1 You Absolutely DREAD Texts Like This One Bring running shoes? ::vomits in mouth a little:: #2 Sitting Like A Lady Has Never Been Your Forte I mean, c'mon. Who has the energy to sit like that all day? #3 The Pre-Wrap Indent UGHHHHH. The frustration. Most under-rated Soccer Girl Problem. #4 You Have A Gatorade Color "Mom, It HAS TO BE RED. Pretty please." #5 You Would Describe This Wall Of Cleats As "Heavenly" You're obsessed. And it's ..read more

If you give a girl a soccer ball, she will want some cleats to go with it. You'll buy her the most adorable pair of little cleats, and then she will probably want some socks and shinguards too. The more soccer toys she collects, the more room it will take up. So you'll have to get her a soccer bag - with her favorite number on it of course. She will probably spend hours tugging at your arm, begging you to go out in the yard and play soccer with her, even though you may want to finally sit down and relax after the hectic day at work you've had. But of course, you can't say no. You will ..read more

We Surveyed 200,000 Soccer Girls About What Makes A Great Teammate; Here Are The Top Answers   10. Be that teammate who goes out of the way to say hi to the new person on the team ^^^Be THIS teammate, always. We all remember the first person who was kind to us in a new environment, right? Why not try and be that teammate for others.   9. Be that teammate who leads from the bench. ^^^The most underrated kind of teammate. Never doubt the impact you can have off the field. If you are the kind of teammate who only leads and encourages when you're playing or doing well, then    ..read more

13. SCORING AN OWN GOAL WHY. JUST WHY. This is the question you ask yourself as you sadly trot back to the center circle with your head down. This dreaded-occurence NEVER happens on purpose, of course, but it still feels JUST as embarrassing. Even if the ball hits off 20 other people before rebounding off of a random body part of yours into the net...you still feel like it was all your fault. 12. Bright Underwear + White Home Jerseys = THE PANTY SHOW You've been warned. The consequences are clear (or see-through, LOL). Yet somehow, you'll accidentally wear those neon "BEST KIS ..read more