How did Natalie Heim navigate the transition to college athletics?

Welcome to The Freshman Foundation® Podcast where we help young athletes become confident problem solvers in sport and life.

My guest in this episode is Natalie Heim, a Division I swimmer and mental health counseling graduate student at Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey.

Natalie shares openly about the challenges she faced in becoming a big-time college student-athlete. She discusses her experiences dealing with injuries, her recruiting process, mental health challenges, and transitioning through COVID.

So, what is your biggest takeaway from my conversation with Natalie Heim?

My biggest takeaway is that the road to athletic success is rarely straight and smooth. The ability to persevere requires actively seeking out help and developing the resilience to withstand adversity.

I want to thank Natalie for joining me on the podcast and wish her luck during the 2024-25 school year.

To learn how mental performance coaching can help young athletes become confident problem solvers in sport and life, visit https://michaelvhuber.com.

Thank you for listening. We’ll see you back soon for Episode 77.

FFP76 How did Natalie Heim navigate the transition to college athletics?

This episode of the Freshman Foundation® Podcast focuses on off-season training for young athletes during the summer break. Mike Huber emphasizes the importance of utilizing the summer to focus on personal development in sports.

Mike highlights three main points during the episode:

1. **Freedom to Choose**: It's okay for athletes to spend their summers as they wish, but they should be aware of the consequences. If they prioritize relaxation over training, they might fall behind in their athletic development.

2. **Consequences of Choices**: Athletes need to understand that their decisions during the summer impact their performance in the upcoming season. Huber stresses the importance of aligning actions with goals and being willing to accept the outcomes.

3. **Mental Development**: To enhance athletic skills, athletes should incorporate mental training into their summer regimen. This could include practices like meditation, journaling, or improving self-talk.

Mike also advises athletes to reflect on their previous season, set specific and measurable goals, and establish a plan to achieve them. He explains the importance of different types of goals, including outcome goals, performance goals, and process goals, and how they contribute to success.

Finally, he suggests finding an accountability partner to stay on track and recommends considering mental performance coaching during the off-season. He provides resources for further guidance and encourages athletes to focus on continuous improvement and resilience throughout the summer break.

Follow The Freshman Foundation® on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thefreshmanfoundation

ATHLETES: To learn how to become a confident problem solver through mental performance coaching, visit https://michaelvhuber.com.

FFP75: How should you train your mind this offseason?

How is Annie Delre teaching young women the (stuff) she wishes she knew in high school?

Welcome to The Freshman Foundation® Podcast where we help young athletes BE READY for every next step in the game of life through mental performance coaching.

My guest in this episode is Annie Delre, board-certified health and wellness coach and author of the book, “Sh*t I Wish I knew in High School.” Annie’s inspiration for the book was sharing what she learned in high school with her younger twin sisters. 

In Episode 74, Annie and I talk about the challenges that teenagers face - mainly young females - and how important it is to help them learn HOW to ask for help and WHO they can trust to ask.

So, what is your biggest takeaway from my conversation with Annie Delre?

My biggest takeaway is that it can be really hard for teenagers to express themselves openly. However, teaching them to do so is critical to their development, mental health, and overall well-being. 

I want to thank Annie for joining me on the podcast. You can learn more about Annie on her website at https://www.anniedelre.com/ and on Instagram @coachanniedelre.

To learn how mental performance coaching can help young athletes BE READY for their next step in the game of life, visit https://michaelvhuber.com.

Please follow, like and comment on The Freshman Foundation YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@thefreshmanfoundation.

Thank you for listening. We’ll see you back soon for Episode 75.

FFP74: How is Annie Delre teaching young women the (stuff) she wishes she knew in high school?

Why is Angela Teeple “all in” for living her purpose of helping young athletes?

Welcome to The Freshman Foundation® Podcast where we help young athletes BE READY for every next step in the game of life through mental performance coaching.

My guest in this episode is Angela Teeple, founder of a non-profit organization called All In Athletes. Angela was a Division I field hockey athlete at Ball State University in Indiana, and then a high school coach and teacher on the Jersey Shore for over 20 years. Angela started All In to have a more profound impact on the lives of young athletes and those around them.

In Episode 73, Angela wears her heart on her sleeve sharing openly about the experiences that have led her to living a life of purpose. You will love Angela’s candor, energy, and sheer passion for her work.

So, what was your biggest takeaway from my conversation with Angela Teeple?

My biggest takeaway is what Angela shared about living her standard over her feelings. It’s easy to give in to our feelings, especially when they are negative. However, if we have a standard that we aspire to every single day, then we need to be intentional about achieving that standard regardless of how we feel. This is hard, but it’s possible if we put in the work.

I want to thank Angela for sharing her story in this episode. You can learn more about Angela on her website https://allinathletes.org and on Instagram @allin.athletes.

To learn how mental performance coaching can help you BE READY for your next step in the game of life, visit https://michaelvhuber.com.

Please follow, like and comment on The Freshman Foundation YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@thefreshmanfoundation.

Thank you for listening. We’ll see you back soon for Episode 74.

FFP73: Why is Angela Teeple “all in” for living her purpose of helping young athletes?

How is David Lam making a difference in the lives of young basketball players?

Welcome to The Freshman Foundation® Podcast where we help young athletes BE READY for every next step in the game of life through mental performance coaching.

My guest in this episode is David Lam, a basketball trainer based in Jersey City, New Jersey. David serves basketball athletes at all levels, including professional hoopers. However, David’s primary focus is helping middle and high school athletes develop themselves in order to maximize their abilities on the court.

David shares how he grew his training business from scratch and how he helps young basketball players improve the technical, mental, and emotional components of their game through hands-on instruction.

So, what was your biggest takeaway from my conversation with David Lam?

My biggest takeaway is how hard it can be for young athletes to get out of their own way sometimes. They often set high expectations for themselves that can be hard to meet. It’s our job as coaches to help them focus on the controllable elements of their development to maximize their potential and help them to strive to be a superstar in whatever role they find themselves in.

I want to thank David for sharing his story on this episode. You can learn more about David by following his Instagram @dlamtraining.

To learn how mental performance coaching can help you BE READY for your next step in the game of life, visit https://michaelvhuber.com.

Please follow, like and comment on The Freshman Foundation YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@thefreshmanfoundation.

Thank you for listening. We’ll see you back soon for Episode 73.

FFP72: How is David Lam making a difference in the lives of young basketball players?

Welcome to The Freshman Foundation® Podcast where we help young athletes BE READY for every next step in the game of life through mental performance coaching.

My guest in this episode is John Bachenski, a lacrosse player at Susquehanna University in Pennsylvania. Lacrosse was John’s first love growing up in New Jersey. He knew early on that he wanted to continue his playing career in college. However, the process of finding the right college program was a challenging one.

John discusses how he learned about the recruiting process the hard way and shares what aspiring college athletes need to learn in order to find their right fit.

So, what was your biggest takeaway from my conversation with John Bachenski?

My biggest takeaway is that aspiring collegiate athletes need to take control of their own recruiting process as early as possible. Young athletes need to do their research and ask college coaches hard questions even if it might be uncomfortable. Failing to do so can lead to finding the wrong college fit.

I want to thank John for sharing his story on this episode. He’s a great role model for any young athlete that wants to succeed at the next level.

To learn how mental performance coaching can help you BE READY for your next step in the game of life, visit https://michaelvhuber.com.

Please follow, like and comment on The Freshman Foundation YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@thefreshmanfoundation

Thank you for listening. We’ll see you back soon for Episode 72.

FFP71: The Freshman Foundation Podcast - Episode 71.mp3

How has Matt Milone navigated rough seas to find smooth sailing on the baseball diamond?

Welcome to The Freshman Foundation® Podcast where we help young athletes BE READY for every next step in the game of life through mental performance coaching.

My guest in this episode is Matt Milone, a college baseball player who has endured about as much adversity as one young athlete can. He’s been through every level of collegiate baseball starting in Division 2 where his first school’s athletic program was shut down due to COVID in 2020.

After transferring to the Junior College and Division I levels, Matt has found security and success at SUNY Maritime, a Division 3 school in the Bronx, New York.

Focusing on what he can control, Matt had an extremely productive 2023 season. Sticking with that formula, he hopes to have another great season in 2024 with the goal of making it to professional baseball.

So, what was your biggest takeaway from my conversation with Matt?

My biggest takeaway is that resilience is perhaps the greatest skill that any athlete can have. Sometimes, circumstances derail our plans and we can only control our attitude, preparation, and effort as we persevere through difficulties.

Matt is a case study in resilience. It might have been easier to give up on baseball when COVID shut down his school’s baseball program. Rather, he continued to pursue his dream of playing baseball while finding ways around and over roadblocks.

I want to thank Matt for sharing his story with us on this episode. He’s a great role model for any young athlete that wants to succeed at the next level.

You can follow Matt on Instagram at mattmilone13.

To learn how you can BE READY to dominate the leap from high school to collegiate athletics, visit https://michaelvhuber.com/course.

Thank you for listening. We’ll see you back soon for Episode 71.

FFP70: How has Matt Milone navigated rough seas to find smooth sailing on the baseball diamond?

Do you struggle to ask for help when you need it?

Welcome to "The Freshman Foundation" Podcast where we help young athletes BE READY for every next step in the game of life through mental performance coaching.

I recorded this podcast on October 5th, 2023 during mental health awareness week, so I thought it was fitting to talk about the subject of asking for help.

In Episode 50 of The Freshman Foundation® Podcast, I discussed WHY it’s so hard to ask for help. In this episode, I dive deeper into HOW we can get better at asking for help.

In my view, asking for help is a skill. This perspective is highly personal. I had to learn to ask others for help in my late 30s and early 40s to address my own mental health and life challenges. Practicing asking for help allowed me to get better at it, and ultimately, it improved my life.

SO, what was your biggest takeaway from this episode?

The thing that I would like you to take away is that there is absolutely no shame in asking for help. 

I would be remiss if I said that asking for help is easy for me. It is not. I don’t think it is easy for anyone because of the fears associated with doing so. Our brain wants us to believe that asking for help is a threat when it is exactly the opposite. It is an opportunity.

If you view asking for help as a skill that you want to improve like technical and physical skills, then the odds are you will get better at it. Doing this requires a growth mindset.

I want to thank you for joining me in this discussion about asking for help.

To get access to more great content, register to join our community at https://michaelvhuber.com [https://michaelvhuber.com/].

High school athletes, if you want to BE READY to dominate the leap to collegiate athletics, visit https://michael-huber.mykajabi.com/offers/PSSHJCp2

Please follow The Freshman Foundation® on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thefreshmanfoundation

Thank you for listening. We’ll see you back soon for Episode 70.

FFP69: How do I ask for help?

Curious about how authenticity and self-awareness can enhance an athlete's performance?

Welcome to The Freshman Foundation®, a podcast that helps young athletes and their families BE READY for every next step in the game of life.

In this episode, we're privileged to host Jure Koscak, an AEQ Method Level 2 teacher, life coach, and former table tennis professional. From the importance of authenticity in high-pressure environments to understanding the nuances of self-identity, Jure shares his unique journey.

SO, what was your biggest takeaway from my conversation with Jure?

My biggest takeaway is the importance of self-awareness and authenticity in an athlete's journey. Jure shares his personal experience, highlighting the struggle with the pressure to perform and the breakthroughs that come with embracing authenticity. He emphasizes the gap that can exist between who athletes believe they need to be and who they truly are - bridging this gap is where mentors and coaches prove crucial.

I want to thank Jure for his kind generosity and the wisdom he shared with The Freshman Foundation Community.

You can learn more about Jure’s work by visiting https://www.thegenuineathlete.com/aeqenrollment

You can also follow Jure on Instagram @genuine.athlete and on TikTok @thegenuineathlete

To learn how you can BE READY for your next step in the game of life, visit https://michaelvhuber.com [https://michaelvhuber.com/].

Thank you for listening. We look forward to welcoming you back for Episode 69!

FFP68: How is Jure Koscak using his experiences to help others become genuine athletes?

The Freshman Foundation® helps young athletes BE READY for every next step in the game of life through mental performance coaching.

In Part Two of this "Ask Me Anything" edition of the podcast, we will explore the following questions:

Why do I get so nervous before a game?

How can I have more fun playing my sport?

I’ve seen some of your posts on resourcefulness. Can you explain what it means?

I want to compete in college. What do you think I should be working on now?

What is your favorite part of mental performance coaching?

 

FFP67: Ask Me Anything Part #2

The Freshman Foundation Podcast: Preparing young athletes for every next step in sport and life. The Freshman Foundation Podcast is the creation of Mike Huber, who has a deep curiosity about the transition from high school to college athletics and the impact of life transitions in general. This interest is based on his experiences working with high school athletes, as well as his own life experiences. Mike talks to an array of successful athletes, respected coaches, and mental performance experts to discuss their perspectives on the very big leap to college athletics. The primary goal of the podcast is to help aspiring college athletes and their families to understand what it takes to survive and thrive in college amidst the many mental, emotional, social, and academic challenges facing incoming freshmen. Through his conversations, Mike hopes to identify the skills and attributes that the most successful student-athletes demonstrate upon arriving on campus. Mike is Founder and CEO of Follow The Ball LLC and Follow The Freshman LLC mental performance consultancies based in Fair Haven, New Jersey. Mike has earned the prestigious Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC)® designation awarded by the Association of Applied Sport Psychology (AASP). Earning CMPC designation is the “gold standard” in the mental performance coaching field.. Mike’s mental performance coaching practice is focused on helping young athletes to achieve their potential by teaching them mental, emotional, and life skills to thrive in high school, college, and beyond. You can download free mental performance coaching resources at https://michaelvhuber.com.