I’ve worked with athletes who can run faster, lift heavier, and train harder than anyone — but still crumble under pressure. Why? Because the body doesn’t care how skilled you are if your nervous system is in survival mode. The Physiology of Pressure When an athlete’s stress...
I often tell my Calgary clients: comparison is the thief of confidence. But for kids growing up in competitive sports, comparison is everywhere — in scores, rankings, highlights, and social media. And it’s exhausting. The Hidden Cost of Comparison When athletes constantly measure themselves against others, their self-worth...
As a coach, I’ve noticed how the tension on the bench among athletes shifts. If the coaches or other adults are too intense and focused on winning, the athletes become tense. They make more mistakes, they talk negatively and criticize their teammates more. They pick up...
As a coach, I’ve seen it many times. An extremely talented athlete with incredible potential, shattered by a serious injury. They’ve put so much time and energy into being an athlete, that they have built their entire identity on their sport. But when that’s gone,...
I grew up in a sports family. My dad never missed a game, and I remember scanning the stands to find his face — more than I watched the scoreboard. Even as an adult and psychologist, that memory stays with me. Because kids don’t just look...
I’ll never forget a teenage hockey player I worked with a few years ago. He’d just been cut from a rep team, and his parents were devastated. But he wasn’t. “It sucks,” he told me, “but I know I’ll be okay.” That single sentence perfectly captured...
When parents tell me their child “just doesn’t seem to be having fun anymore,” I always pause before I answer. Because I’ve heard that sentence hundreds of times in my Calgary practice, and what it usually means is: the spark has gone out of play. But here’s...
Let Them Get Dirty: Why Messy Kids Are Mentally Stronger By Ashley Shaw Still Waters Psychology – Raising Champions: Ashley’s Corner This one’s for the parents scrubbing sunscreen off the car seats, rinsing grass stains out of socks, and wondering if it’s all worth it. It is. That dirt under...
The Campfire Effect: Why Summer Bonding Builds Lifelong Resilience By Ashley Shaw Still Waters Psychology – Raising Champions: Ashley’s Corner Let’s talk about what happens when we slow down, gather around, and stay awhile. There’s something magical about summer nights. The glow of a campfire. The damp grass under...
From Skill to Spark: Rethinking Success in Summer Camps By Ashley Shaw Still Waters Psychology – Raising Champions: Ashley’s Corner For the parents, coaches, and educators who just want their kids to have a great summer—but feel the creeping pressure of performance… this one’s for you. You’ve signed them...