In this week’s PerformHappy Podcast, I’m joined by sport parent and PerformHappy alum, Susan Bardack, for a real, honest conversation about the rollercoaster of raising an athlete.

Susan shares her daughter Ashland’s journey from gymnastics to D1 college diving, including how they navigated tough mental blocks and the moment everything shifted—when Susan stopped pushing and started trusting.

We talk about the lessons parents often learn the hard way, the impact of pressure (even when it's well-meaning), and how letting go actually helped Ashland find her confidence, joy, and success in sport.

If you're a parent trying to support your athlete without adding stress, this episode is for you.

In this episode, Coach Rebecca and Susan Bardack talk about:

Transition from Gymnastics to Diving.

Navigating Mental Blocks in Sports.

Finding the Right Coaching Fit.

Embracing Patience in Sports.

Choosing the Right College Program.

The Balance of Support and Independence with an Athlete.

Listening to Fears: Acknowledging Emotions in Sports.

Finding the Right Sport

“It's okay to switch sports.” – Susan Bardack

I'm teaming up with @nike and @ussportscamps to bring you TWO life-changing Confident Gymnast Camps this summer—and your gymnast is invited! Pittsboro, NC — Unify Athletics | July 19th & 20th. Petaluma, CA — Redwood Empire Gymnastics | August 2nd & 3rd. Spots will go FAST!
https://www.ussportscamps.com/welcome/nike-gymnastics-camps-complete-performance-coaching

Learn exactly what to say and do to guide your athlete through a mental block with my new book "Parenting Through Mental Blocks" Order your copy today: https://a.co/d/g990Bur

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/complete_performance/

Join my FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/completeperformancecoaching/

Check out my website: https://completeperformancecoaching.com/

Write to me! Email: rebecca@completeperformancecoaching.com

Ready to help your athlete overcome fears and mental blocks while gaining unstoppable confidence? Discover the transformative power of PerformHappy now. If your athlete is struggling or feeling left behind, it's time for a change. Are you ready? For more info and to sign up: PerformHappy.com

There’s a specific kind of heartbreak that hits when your child doesn’t get moved up to the next level, especially when all their friends do. You see it in their face. You feel it in the silence on the car ride home. And as a parent, you just want to fix it. You want to make it better; give them hope and tell them to keep pushing. But deep down, you might already know… this just isn’t going to go the way they hoped.

In this week’s episode of the PerformHappy Podcast, I’m diving into this all-too-familiar scenario. Whether it’s not moving up, not making the team, or falling short of a goal they’ve worked so hard for, disappointment is part of the journey—and it’s one of the hardest parts to navigate.

I’ll share actionable tips to help you show up for your athlete in those tough moments—not with empty encouragement or forced positivity, but with presence, perspective, and support that actually helps them process what they’re going through. Because these are the moments that build mental toughness. Not just for your athlete, but for you, too.

If you’ve ever found yourself sitting beside a teary-eyed kid, unsure of what to say or do, this episode is for you. Let’s walk through it together. Listen in now, wherever you get your podcasts.

In this episode, Coach Rebecca talks about:

Understanding the Athlete's Journey.

Navigating Parental Support.

Building Resilience Through Experience.

The Importance of Emotional Neutrality.

Preparing for Life's Challenges.

“When a gymnast feels a parent's love is tied to their performance, they start believing mistakes make them less lovable—and that pressure leads to mental blocks.” - Rebecca Smith

Want to know exactly what's going on in your gymnast’s brain when she’s stuck—and how to actually help her without making things worse? Click the link to save your spot for my free training for gymnastics moms, where I’ll walk you through the proven 3-step method to rebuild trust and confidence this summer.

completeperformancecoaching.com/free

Learn exactly what to say and do to guide your athlete through a mental block with my new book "Parenting Through Mental Blocks" Order your copy today: https://a.co/d/g990Bur

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/complete_performance/

Join my FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/completeperformancecoaching/

Check out my website: https://completeperformancecoaching.com/

Write to me! Email: rebecca@completeperformancecoaching.com

Ready to help your athlete overcome fears and mental blocks while gaining unstoppable confidence? Discover the transformative power of PerformHappy now. If your athlete is struggling or feeling left behind, it's time for a change. Are you ready? For more info and to sign up: PerformHappy.com

If your athlete is stuck in a mental block, you’re not alone. That’s exactly what I’m diving into on this week’s PerformHappy Podcast — because fear is something so many athletes struggle with, and honestly, it was my biggest struggle too.

You know the feeling — your athlete says they’re not scared, but they just can’t go. Or maybe they are scared and don’t know how to stop feeling that way. Either way, it can be incredibly frustrating for everyone involved.

In this episode, I’m breaking down why fear shows up (even when it doesn’t always make sense), and I’m walking you through the exact 3-step method we use inside the PerformHappy Community to help athletes move through fear and come out stronger on the other side.

Here’s the good news:
If you apply these steps for just 10 minutes a day this summer, your athlete can start making real progress — and even have a breakthrough.

Ready to help your athlete move past fear for good? Listen to the full episode now, and let's get to work.

In this episode, Coach Rebecca talks about:

Overcoming Mental Blocks in Sports.

Understanding Mental Blocks and Their Impact.

The Perform Happy Method Explained.

Building Trust and Confidence in Athletes.

Introducing the Peak Performance Phase.

“A mental block isn’t a problem — it’s an opportunity.” - Rebecca Smith

Learn exactly what to say and do to guide your athlete through a mental block with my new book "Parenting Through Mental Blocks" Order your copy today: https://a.co/d/g990Bur

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/complete_performance/

Join my FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/completeperformancecoaching/

Check out my website: https://completeperformancecoaching.com/

Write to me! Email: rebecca@completeperformancecoaching.com

Ready to help your athlete overcome fears and mental blocks while gaining unstoppable confidence? Discover the transformative power of PerformHappy now. If your athlete is struggling or feeling left behind, it's time for a change. Are you ready? For more info and to sign up: PerformHappy.com