Skill BuildingWellbeing/Mental HealthRelationships/Communication

Kirsten Jones

Empowered Athletes: Fostering Confidence for Peak Performance

Noon CST 7pm CST

12:00 pm CST 7:00 pm CST

When

Wed, Jan 21, 2026 @ Noon and 7pm CST

Where

Virtual Event

Program Takeaways:

Embrace the “healthy struggle.” Kids need manageable challenges (and even disappointment) to build resilience—don’t “rip open the cocoon” for them.

Keep youth sports grounded in the “3 Fs.” Especially through about age 13: Friends, Fun, Fundamentals—and avoid the fourth F: FOMO.

Stay in your lane as the parent. It’s their journey, not yours—guide, don’t control; support without steering or rescuing.

Let athletes advocate for themselves. Encourage kids to communicate with coaches/teachers directly, practice with role-plays, and build confidence through low-risk skill-building (“scaffolding”).

Reduce pressure by protecting balance. Prioritize sleep (a superpower), recovery, family time, and realistic expectations; multiple sports and healthier schedules help kids stay active longer.

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How can parents encourage their student athletes without stressing them out? Participants will learn how to create a supportive environment where athletes feel valued and motivated, not overwhelmed.

Today’s hyper-competitive youth sports provokes countless questions for well-intentioned parents. Nationally recognized performance coach Jones will come to GPS to offer guidance parents and caregivers can use to boost their athlete’s confidence, motivation, and self-advocacy, while managing pre-competition anxiety and promoting overall balance and wellbeing.

Jones will focus on growth and a positive mindset as well as the best approaches for family conversations and goal setting. By implementing these strategies, parents can positively impact their child’s confidence, wellbeing, and performance in youth sports, while also preparing them for success off the playing field.

Jones is a Nike executive uniquely equipped to help parents and athletes struggling with the demands of competitive youth sports. Her parenting guide, “Raising Empowered Athletes” and her podcast, “Raising Athletes” both provide grounded advice to help youth find their true strength and purpose.