Free mental performance tips for young athletes, parents, and coaches: https://michaelvhuber.com/newsletter

Work with me: https://calendly.com/michaelvhuber/mike-huber-15-minute-meeting-clone

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 – Introduction

02:00 – Why body language is a quarterback’s hidden weapon

05:30 – Leadership lessons: how QBs can rally teammates after mistakes

08:45 – Visualization and preparation: mental reps that build real confidence

13:25 – The progression of quarterback training from youth football to high school

19:45 – Why understanding a coach’s expectations is just as important as physical talent

22:30 – Good misses vs. bad misses: decision-making under pressure

24:45 – Situational awareness: training quarterbacks to handle adversity

28:00 – Coaching very young quarterbacks and planting long-term mental skills

34:15 – The difference between playing quarterback and being a quarterback

40:00 – Evaluating potential: honesty with athletes and parents about the QB journey

42:30 – Lessons from Brock Purdy, Drew Brees, and quarterbacks who maximize intangibles

47:15 – Helping athletes identify strengths and reduce weaknesses

53:00 – Greg’s biggest piece of advice for parents of young quarterbacks

SHOW NOTES:

We explore the mental side of quarterback development, including:

• Why body language and emotional control matter as much as throwing mechanics.
• How quarterbacks can lead teammates through adversity and build trust in the huddle.
• The role of visualization, preparation, and mental rehearsal in developing confidence.
• Why some quarterbacks with average physical tools — like Drew Brees and Brock Purdy — thrive because of their mindset, decision-making, and resilience.
• How parents and coaches can best support young quarterbacks as they grow from youth football into high school and beyond.

CONNECT WITH GREG HOLCOMB

Website: https://www.nxtlevelatx.com/\

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nxtlevelatx

X: https://x.com/QBCoachHolc

CONNECT WITH GREG HOLCOMB

Website: https://michaelvhuber.com

Newsletter: https://michaelvhuber.com/newsletter

HS to College Transition Preparation: https://michaelvhuber.com/course

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelvhuber

X: https://x.com/mhubercmpc

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thefreshmanfoundation

Free mental performance tips for young athletes, parents, and coaches: https://michaelvhuber.com/newsletter

Work with me: https://calendly.com/michaelvhuber/mike-huber-15-minute-meeting-clone

Chapters

00:00 – Introduction

01:45 – Biggest challenges ADHD athletes face: time management, organization, working memory, hyperfocus/hypofocus, and motivation

05:38 – Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD) and its impact on performance and relationships

10:50 – Turning mistakes into problem-solving opportunities

12:29 – Corie’s personal experience as an ADHD athlete and how coaching styles impacted her

16:09 – Coaching athletes to be “coach-proof”

18:58 – Goal-setting strategies for ADHD athletes and the importance of “falter plans”

23:54 – Building motivation through novelty, interest, urgency, and challenge

28:53 – Leveraging visual learning and verbal processing effectively in coaching sessions

34:26 – ADHD as a superpower: hyperfocus, resilience, and strengths-based coaching

35:22 – The role of mindfulness and self-compassion in performance and life

45:43 – Emotional regulation as a core ADHD challenge and strategies to improve it

51:27 – Harnessing emotional intensity for better performance

56:48 – Key takeaway for parents of ADHD athletes

🔗 Connect with Corie Wightlin:

Website: https://wightlincoachingservices.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wightlincoachingservices/

🔗 Connect with Michael Huber:

Website: https://michaelvhuber.com

Newsletter: https://michaelvhuber.com/newsletter

HS to College Transition Preparation: https://michaelvhuber.com/course

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelvhuber

In this episode, Nick breaks down:

Why carbs aren’t the enemy.

How to simplify fueling without obsessing over calories, and what role parents play in the process.

How to get buy-in from athletes who are picky eaters or resistant to change.

Why breakfast might be the most important decision an athlete makes all day.

🔗 Connect with Nick Lemke

https://clutchperformancenutrition.fit/linktree
https://www.instagram.com/nicklemkerd

🔗 Connect with Mike

https://michaelvhuber.com
https://www.instagram.com/michaelvhuber.com

💬 Like this episode?

Rate, review, and share it with a parent or coach who needs help supporting a young athlete’s performance through better nutrition.

Connect with Mike Huber

JOIN OUR COMMUNITY: https://michaelvhuber.com/newsletter

MENTAL PERFORMANCE COACHING CONSULTATION (30 minutes): https://calendly.com/michaelvhuber/mike-huber-30-minute-meeting

QUESTIONS FOR MIKE (15 minutes): https://calendly.com/michaelvhuber/the-freshman-foundation-exploratory-discussion

Timestamps & Topics

00:00 – Reintroduction to Erica: Michael welcomes his first-ever returning guest and explains why this conversation is personal.

01:20 – Why Parents Matter More Than They Think: Erica breaks down how parents can be part of the athlete’s “team”—especially with nutrition, rest, and recovery.

06:00 – The Problem with Misaligned Messaging: When coaches, parents, and specialists aren’t on the same page, the athlete suffers.

07:30 – A Smarter Way to Create Behavior Change: Erica shares how she gets buy-in from athletes and parents without pushing supplements or rules.

10:00 – Visual Learning and the Gen Z Athlete: Why showing — not telling — goes farther with today’s young athletes.

12:30 – The Long Game of Nutrition and Growth: Erica and Michael share their own experiences navigating nutrition and behavior change over years, not months.

15:30 – When the Feedback Hits Hard: Michael shares a story about his daughter’s speed limitation—and how she wasn’t ready to address it yet.

17:00 – What Proper Speed Training Really Looks Like: Erica explains how most soccer players train speed incorrectly—and what actually works.

20:15 – Why Consistency is the Secret to Progress: Like mental training, speed and strength gains come with regular effort over time—not quick fixes.

22:00 – Competing Against Yourself: Erica encourages athletes to track personal bests instead of comparing themselves to teammates.

25:00 – The Role of Decision-Making in Speed: True speed isn’t just physical—it's cognitive. Reaction time, anticipation, and awareness matter.

29:00 – What College Coaches Actually Want: It's more than just speed. Erica shares what college and club coaches look for beyond athleticism.

34:00 – ACL Injury Risk: What Can Be Done?: Erica outlines practical ways to reduce injury risk, including strength training, sprinting, and nutrition.

39:30 – The Fitness Test Trap: Obsessing over fitness tests can lead to overtraining and underperformance. Erica recommends training for the game, not the test.

42:55 – “What Should I Do as a Dad?”: Erica offers one piece of advice to Michael—and every parent—on how to support their athlete daughter the right way.

Takeaways

• Cam started boxing to gain confidence and avoid bullying.
• He learned the importance of hard work over natural talent.
• Self-belief and positive self-talk were crucial to his success.
• Cam faced significant setbacks, including being kicked off the Olympic team.
• He reinvented himself as an entertainer after his boxing career.
• Finding joy in life is essential, even beyond sports.
• Cam emphasizes the importance of resilience in overcoming challenges.
• He encourages young athletes to surround themselves with positive influences.
• The concept of athlete privilege can be leveraged for long-term success.
• Cam's journey highlights the importance of personal growth and self-acceptance.

Chapters

00:00 From Bullying to Boxing: The Early Years

04:50 Building Confidence Through Hard Work

07:48 The Shift: From Self-Doubt to Self-Belief

10:51 The Journey to the Olympics: Trials and Triumphs

13:44 Facing Setbacks: The Olympic Team Incident

16:43 Reinventing Identity: Beyond the Athlete

19:31 Leveraging Athlete Privilege for Longevity

22:39 Navigating Criticism and Staying True to Self

24:06 The Importance of Rest and Recovery

24:54 Trusting Your Instincts Over External Pressure

26:17 The Challenge of Making Your Own Decisions

27:41 The Connection Between Boxing and Entrepreneurship

28:48 Learning from Failure and Resilience

31:22 Living Life on Your Own Terms

33:15 The Struggles of Van Life and Pursuing Dreams

35:29 Overcoming the Fear of Judgment

37:08 Reinventing Yourself: The Birth of Cam F. Awesome

39:35 Transitioning from Schools to Corporate Speaking

41:33 Finding Joy in Your Work

44:44 The Top Five Influences for Athletes

Key Topics & Estimated Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction by Mike Huber

(2:10) Diamyn’s life-changing football injury at 14 and early adversity

(9:20) Transitioning from football to basketball to baseball—and adapting mentally

(16:40) Discovery of mental performance tools: Heads-Up Baseball and John Maxwell’s leadership lessons

(22:10) The role of mental toughness in elite sports performance

(26:00) Building systems for mental skills and leadership development at the college level

(30:30) "Relax to Get Results" – Key principle in mental skills training

(37:20) How to dominate the time between pitches in baseball

(42:00) Shohei Ohtani's goal-setting sheet: Preparation secrets of the elite

(47:30) Preparation and reflection: The habits that differentiate Hall of Famers

(52:00) Visualization and why it's a superpower for athletes (Mookie Betts' example)

(59:00) Convincing young athletes to invest in mental training

(1:03:40) Motivation: Internal vs. external drive at high school, college, and pro levels

(1:09:00) The importance of creating challenging and supportive environments

(1:14:00) Role acceptance, trust, and communication in team culture

(1:21:00) The importance of player-coach communication and meeting athletes where they are

(1:28:00) Self-coaching: Why mastering your inner voice is critical to success

(1:34:00) Awareness, reflection loops, and continuous self-improvement

(1:39:00) Closing thoughts: Watering your own "grass" and building the habits of champions

Resources Mentioned:

Heads-Up Baseball by Ken Ravizza and Tom Hanson

360 Degree Leader by John Maxwell

Relentless by Tim Grover

Body Mind Mastery by Dan Millman

Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni

Shohei Ohtani’s Goal Setting Sheet

Calm App (LeBron James)

Connect with Diamyn Hall:

Follow on Instagram @diamynhall

https://www.instagram.com/diamynhall/

Connect with Michael Huber:

Subscribe to The Freshman Foundation Newsletter: michaelvhuber.com/newsletter

Follow on Instagram @michaelvhuber.

https://www.instagram.com/michaelvhuber/

Key Topics & Timestamps

[00:29] Ed's work in confidence building and youth development

[01:16] The importance of curiosity before passion

[02:37] Connection between curiosity and empathy

[04:06] Teaching teenagers about taking risks and trying new things

[06:15] Common mistakes in goal setting

[13:19] The power of positive self-talk and its impact

[18:36] The importance of modeling behavior for children

[21:26] Parenting with authenticity and handling mistakes

[31:13] Key qualities of high-performing leaders

[34:19] Practicing gratitude and being present

[37:38] Discussion of Ed's book "Shine Your Light"

[39:42] The role of values in personal identity

Key Insights

1. **Curiosity Before Passion**

- Emphasis on encouraging exploration before focusing on passion

- The importance of trying new things and stepping outside comfort zones

- How curiosity leads to discovering authentic interests

2. **Building Confidence Through Effort**

- Focus on celebrating effort over results

- The importance of setting realistic, manageable goals

- How small achievements build momentum and confidence

3. **The Power of Modeling**

- Parents and leaders need to demonstrate the behaviors they want to see

- The impact of authentic responses to challenges

- Teaching through example rather than just instruction

4. **Gratitude and Present-Moment Awareness**

- The scientific benefits of practicing gratitude

- Techniques for staying present (breathing, journaling)

- How gratitude affects performance and mindset

Notable Quotes

- "It's not passion first, I think it's actually curiosity first." - Ed Gerety

- "The biggest mistake that you can ever make is to live someone else's goal, is to live someone else's dream." - Ed Gerety

- "Be gentle with yourself so that you can be gentle and kind to others." - Ed Gerety

Resources Mentioned

- Ed's Book: "Shine Your Light: Navigate Your Way to a Life You Love"

- Reference to Carol Dweck's work on growth mindset

- Strategic Coach program's positive focus exercise

About Ed Gerety

Ed Gerety is a speaker, author, and leadership development expert with 30 years of experience working with students, educators, and business leaders. His work focuses on building confidence, developing leadership skills, and helping people navigate their way to a life they love.

## Connect with Ed

Ed's website

Buy Ed's book, "Shine Your Light"

## Connect with Michael

Mike's website

The Freshman Foundation® YouTube Channel

[00:00 - 03:30] Introduction
Michael introduces David Durand, who shares his background and perspective on working with Gen Z athletes.

[03:31 - 06:50] Social Media’s Impact on Adolescents
David discusses how social media fuels perfectionism and insecurity among young athletes. He explains how constant social surveillance amplifies the pressure to appear flawless.

[06:51 - 10:09] Navigating Perfectionism and Social Comparison
David highlights how perfectionism can be a double-edged sword. He dives into the concepts of social comparison and fear of negative evaluation, which are heightened by social media use.

[10:10 - 14:10] Building Internal Security Through Sports
The conversation shifts to how sports can be a powerful tool for developing internal confidence. Michael and David discuss the shift from seeking external validation to cultivating self-worth.

[14:11 - 19:30] Early Intervention and Planting Seeds of Resilience
Michael shares his experiences working with younger athletes and emphasizes the importance of introducing sports psychology concepts early. David explains how building mental strength at a young age can counterbalance social media’s negative influence.

[19:31 - 22:40] The BET Method: Breath, Eyes, Touch
David introduces his framework from his book, Bet On It, which uses the BET method to help athletes regulate stress and improve performance.

• Breath: Techniques to control stress through breathing.
• Eyes: Using panoramic vision to combat tunnel vision under pressure.
• Touch: Grounding techniques to enhance presence and focus.

[22:41 - 29:02] Practical Applications of the BET Method
David provides practical examples of how athletes can use the BET method to stay grounded during competition. They discuss how these techniques can also be applied to academics and everyday stressors.

[29:03 - 36:00] Mental Resilience for Injured Athletes
David shares insights from his upcoming book, Better Than Before, which guides athletes through the mental challenges of recovering from injuries. He emphasizes turning adversity into an opportunity for personal growth.

[36:01 - 41:20] Empowering Coaches to Understand and Support Athletes
Michael and David discuss the importance of fostering empathy and understanding in coaching. They explore how asking better questions and creating a supportive environment can positively impact athletes’ mental well-being.

[41:21 - 44:40] Advice for Parents and Coaches on Connecting with Gen Z
David emphasizes the need to approach young athletes with curiosity and empathy, asking questions to better understand their perspective. Michael shares the importance of giving young people a voice and respecting their need to understand the "why" behind decisions.

[44:41 - End] Closing Thoughts and Takeaways
David and Michael wrap up the conversation with their final thoughts on how to best support young athletes in navigating today’s pressures. They discuss the long-term benefits of building resilience, confidence, and self-awareness.

Resources Mentioned:

• David Durand’s book: Bet On It: A Psychological Approach to Coaching Gen Z and Beyond GET DAVE'S BOOK
• The BET Framework (Breath, Eyes, Touch) for emotional regulation and performance improvement.

Connect with Us:

• Follow Michael Huber: Instagram / YouTube / LinkedIn / Website
• Connect with David Durand: Website

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