In this episode of Untapped Stories, we sit down with https://www.instagram.com/coachballgame/ - Youth Ambassador for ⁨the MLB⁩ and one of the most influential voices in youth sports today - for a conversation every athlete, parent, and coach needs to hear.

James has spent years traveling the country, training thousands of coaches, working alongside some of the greatest players in the game, and impacting millions of young athletes through his teaching. And yet, when we asked him one simple question — how do you help young athletes stay calm under pressure? — his answer wasn’t complicated.

It was breathing.

Pressure moments are unavoidable in baseball. Bases loaded. Two strikes. Crowd noise. Bright lights. Expectations. Even the most prepared athletes feel the wave hit — including professionals. The difference? Pros are equipped with tools to reset in real time.

James points to Mookie Betts as a perfect example. Watch him in the on-deck circle and you’ll see it: inhale for four seconds, exhale for two. It’s a simple breathing technique, but it works because it forces the mind back into the present moment. Instead of spiraling into self-doubt or thinking about outcomes, the athlete anchors to their breath — and clarity follows.

That idea extends far beyond breathing. One of James’s core philosophies is that coaching starts with connection. Before athletes can absorb drills, mechanics, or feedback, they need to know their coach genuinely cares. Trust creates buy-in. Buy-in creates growth.

When kids feel seen and valued, they listen harder, work harder, and enjoy the game more. At Athletes Untapped, we see this every day — and it’s why mentorship matters just as much as technical training when we recruit coaches to our platform.

James also challenges athletes to step outside their comfort zone. Playing multiple sports, learning new roles, and embracing unfamiliar situations builds adaptability — not just on the field, but in life. Baseball teaches failure better than almost any sport, and growth comes from learning how to respond, reset, and move forward.

That same theme shows up in our broader Untapped Stories conversations, including our episode with pro basketball player Makenna Marisa, who breaks down confidence as a skill — not a personality trait. Confidence is built through action, quick resets, and long-term perspective. The mental game matters at every level.

This episode is a must-listen for athletes learning to manage pressure, parents supporting confidence the right way, and coaches who believe development starts with trust, presence, and preparation.

🎙️ Untapped Stories is presented by https://athletesuntapped.com/ — the nation’s leading platform for private sports coaching. We connect families with elite, vetted coaches across baseball and 15+ sports 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/