In Episode 105, we explore what happens when a well-designed long-term plan is derailed by sudden external pressure, and how athletes, coaches, and support can respond in a constructive way.

We break down:

• How teams thrive when identity, communication, and process are aligned

• Why short-term panic destroys long-term performance

• How behavioural flexibility becomes your biggest asset

• What Bruce Tuckman’s team stages (Forming–Storming–Norming–Performing) can teach us during disruptive change

• The “Three Ants” analogy that reveals how people react when systems collapse

One leadership decision can shift an entire team culture from growth mindset to panic mode. But it doesn't have to be that way. Elite performers can stay adaptable when everything changes.

For the strategies that keep teams united, resilient, and performing under pressure, this episode is a must-listen.

https://www.smartmind.com/podcast

In this episode of Brain in the Game, Dave Diggle sits down with Kym Cheeseman from Athlete Brand Academy to unpack the real business behind modern sport – and why young athletes and their parents need to understand it long before contracts, sponsorships or media opportunities arrive.

Whether your athlete is in a pathways, collegiate or feeder program, whether they play a TV-broadcast sport or a niche discipline, this episode breaks down the essential commercial, personal and developmental factors that turn raw talent into a long-term asset.

In this conversation, we explore:

• Why today’s young athletes need both a performance pathway and a business pathway
  
• The rise of tipping-point parents and why education is the missing link
  
• Personal branding for athletes aged 15–20 – and why authenticity matters more than aesthetics
  
• The difference between an agent and a manager (and how to choose the right one)
  
• Why sponsorship is not a donation, and how athletes can deliver true ROI
  
• The pitfalls of having no Plan B and navigating early retirement through injury
  
• How US, UK and Australian systems shape athlete mindset and opportunity
  
• The psychological load parents carry when left out of the communication loop
  
• The commercial future of women’s sport and why female athletes are often more sponsor-ready
  
• The culture of self-belief, arrogance, tall-poppy syndrome and the underdog mindset in sport
  

This episode is a must-listen for:

• Parents of athletes aged 15–20 navigating high-performance pathways
  
• Young athletes stepping into elite, collegiate, semi-pro or pro environments
  
• Coaches who want better relationships with athletes and their parents
  
• Anyone curious about the business ecosystem surrounding modern sport
  

Because sport is no longer just sport.

It’s contracts, media, sponsorship, lifestyle, security, money, identity, reputation, wellbeing and longevity – and it begins far earlier than most realise.

Modern sports management isn’t just about who plays on the weekend.

It’s about how an athlete understands themselves, represents themselves, and builds a viable future – on and off the field.

Rather watch the video? You will find it here: https://youtu.be/hOAFWLizAkQ?si=sNcbkfxTlIYSvttm

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Athlete Brand Academy – Kym Cheeseman: https://www.athletebrandacademy.com.au/
  
• Work with Dave Diggle – High Performance Sports Mind Coach: https://www.smartmind.com/
  
• Subscribe to Brain in the Game on your favourite platform

In this powerful episode of Brain in the Game, we dig into one of the most emotionally charged dynamics in sport: the relationship between parents, coaches, and athletes – and the one mistake almost every parent makes, often without realising it.

As the season winds down and pressure spikes, friction builds. Parents want the best for their child. Coaches want to develop the athlete. Athletes just want clarity, support, and space to perform.

So where does it all go wrong?

We break down the core misunderstanding that leads parents to unintentionally derail their child’s progress:

Trying to control the sporting environment instead of supporting it.

Through practical examples, developmental models, and lived experience as a coach, athlete, and parent, Dave explains how role-confusion creates tension – and how clearer boundaries create thriving, confident athletes.

In this episode we delve into:

• The one mistake parents make that causes almost all conflict in sport – Why taking control, giving technical advice, or ‘fixing’ the athlete’s problems pushes the child and coach away.
• The Parent–Coach–Athlete triangle and why it becomes volatile – We unpack the emotional, structural, and seasonal triggers that turn small issues into big friction.
• The developmental control curve (what athletes need at each age) – From 90% coach control in early childhood to 90% athlete ownership in adulthood, and why parents often miss this shift.
• The difference between raising a human vs growing an athlete – Coaches coach. Parents parent. When roles overlap, athletes suffer.
• How to avoid bringing training home – Keeping sport at sport protects the relationship and the athlete’s mental wellbeing.
• The two magic questions every parent should ask – Game-changer.
• Why venting is healthy, and overreacting isn’t – How parents can be a safe sounding board without escalating issues or undermining the coach.
• How coaches can build trust with parents (and stop the ambush conversations) – Creating structured communication channels that prevent conflict and increase collaboration.
• How athletes can navigate both relationships without burnout – Understanding roles, boundaries, and how to communicate their needs clearly.

Rather watch the video? You will find it here: https://youtu.be/bMLpV2_3mi8?si=pQ8YrNShnkDT_LWo

Episode 99 – Knowing Your Role In High Performance Sport: https://www.smartmind.com/podcasts/brain-in-the-game-sport-mind-coaching-podcast/episodes/2148754402

https://youtu.be/pE7BygxebTg?si=hEU7Q7Z1ahjPAgS3