What Sets an Athlete Apart? It’s Not Perfection—It’s the Bounce-Back
Let me take you back to my very first race as a freshman at the University of Washington.
I didn’t know a single person on the team, and no one knew me. I was brand-new. With no expectations and no pressure, I stepped into that race wide-eyed and eager. Looking back, I made a handful of rookie mistakes. I didn’t eat enough the night before or the morning of the race. I remember standing on the starting line, stomach rumbling, wondering how that might affect me once the gun went off.
When the race began, I ran like my life depended on it. I gave everything I had—so much so that I had to crawl across the finish line.
I collapsed at the end, completely spent. And while it was one of the gutsiest efforts of my life, all I could focus on was how frustrated I felt. I had poured every ounce of myself into that race, and still, it wasn’t enough to get the outcome I wanted. I didn’t see it as a brave effort or a learning experience—I saw it as failure. And that mindset stuck with me.
As the season wore on, I let doubt creep in. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I didn’t belong. That race became the beginning of a mental spiral—not because I lacked ability, but because I stopped believing in my ability. That moment was a turning point. Not due to a physical setback—but because of a mental one.
This is a truth many young athletes aren’t told: setbacks are inevitable. No one escapes them. The difference between the good and the great isn’t that the great never struggle—it’s that they know how to move forward anyway. Again and again.
That’s the real skill that sets athletes apart. Not perfection, but persistence. The athletes who go the distance are the ones who develop the ability to:
Reflect on a tough race and reset their mindset.
Learn from a mistake without letting it define them.
Rebuild their confidence when self-doubt tries to take over.
Untangle their self-worth from one result, one score, or one bad day.
And here’s the encouraging part: this bounce-back ability can be trained. Just like sprint speed, shooting form, or strength—it’s a skill that can be developed through practice and support. It’s the number one skill I teach the athletes I work with.
So if your daughter messes up, falls short, or questions herself—don’t panic. These are the moments that matter most. Remind her that she isn’t supposed to get everything right. She’s supposed to learn how to move through the hard stuff and rise stronger because of it.
That’s what will truly set her apart—not just as an athlete, but as a confident, resilient leader in life.
Want a free resource to help your daughter build her bounce-back muscle? Download The Confidence Checklist for Female Athletes – a simple, powerful tool to help her find her footing and grow her belief, no matter the outcome.
Or if you want to support your athlete to dive a little deeper, book a call with me here at no cost and we can chat.
Together, let’s raise girls who don’t just aim to win—but who know how to get back up when they don’t.
