I’ve become wildly passionate about middle school sports — and surprisingly, it’s not just about winning. Honestly, I never pictured myself feeling this way. Middle school was, without question, the most miserable time of my life, and nothing really prepares you for parenting a middle schooler.
I played volleyball all through middle school and high school. Back then, it consumed my free time. Practices. Games. Club ball. Summer ball. Repeat.
When it was over, I wanted nothing to do with it anymore.
Fast forward to my oldest daughter wanting to try volleyball. I volunteered to coach… and now I basically live in a gym again. Only this time, it’s different. I’ve re-fallen in love with the game — maybe even more than I did as a teenager.
At this point, I’ve made plenty of mistakes and have practically had to learn volleyball backwards. But here’s the coolest part — I’ve learned so much about myself in the process.
I’ve realized just how much a white ball and a gym floor shaped me over the years — and how deeply my coaches influenced the person I am now. Their words (or even their silence). Their standards for excellence. Their belief in me. It mattered far more than I understood at the time.
Now I can’t help but see how my role as a coach carries that same weight. I get the opportunity to help shape future generations — to help these girls grow into confident, capable, kingdom-building adults.
Because what I’ve learned isn’t really about volleyball.
It’s about leadership.
Resilience.
Identity.
Discipline.
Belief.
Those lessons stretch far beyond the court.
Am I as disciplined as I once was? Not even close. Life feels chaotic most days. I joke that I’m more “type Z” now — the more I plan, the more my plans seem to unravel, so I’ve learned to just roll with it.
But somehow, when I step into that gym, my old disciplined self comes alive. That first year coaching my daughter’s team, I barely recognized myself — this focused, type-A version of me I hadn’t seen in years.
And I’ve become incredibly passionate about helping the girls I get to coach build confidence — not just in their skills, but in who God made them to be — and then watching them carry that confidence onto the court.
It’s been amazing to watch them wrestle through hard skills, face failure, build resilience, and eventually succeed. And the truth? They’ve made me better too.
Once you get pre-teens on your side, the sky really is the limit. Their belief grows. My belief in them grows. And we all rise together.
Kids are incredible. And more than anything, this experience has reminded me how much we need to stay open — open to leading them, yes — but also open to learning from them.
Without a doubt, I believe God has a beautiful place where His kingdom and the sports world collide.
And I’d love to share what I’ve learned along the way — the concepts I’m deeply passionate about, the patterns, I’ve seen, that have quietly made youth sports unhealthy, and the honest conversations we need to have. I also want to learn from you.
Together, I hope we can exchange ideas and create practical, creative ways to help these girls grow into the very best humans God designed them to be.
We owe it to them, and to the generations their lives will one day influence.
In the heat of competition, it’s easy for athletes to let their performance define their identity. This category is dedicated to the mental and spiritual side of the game. Here, you’ll find the practical tools, affirmations, and scriptures I’ve made and used to help girls and young athletes start to build a foundation that doesn’t shake when they lose or crumble when they face a challenge.
I believe that if we as adults struggle with self-doubt and the pressure to be perfect, our children and teens are feeling it tenfold. My goal is to bridge that gap by:
Whether you are a coach, a parent, or an athlete yourself, these resources are designed to help you play from a place of abundance rather than lack, and to shine your light through every win, loss, and lesson in between.
