Friday Fuel - 4 July

🌿 A Quick Update from Us

Before we dive into this week’s topic, here’s a little peek behind the scenes at Game Changer and FYA HQ:

Ben has been hard at work getting our website ready (another huge learning curve!). Soon, it’ll be your one-stop shop for all our products, expert advice, and interviews. Alongside that, both our families have been busy testing gear samples. We’ve trialled different drink bottles and blenders—some didn’t make the cut because they were too bulky or didn’t feel durable enough. But when we landed on the final versions, we both knew they were the right ones because we genuinely wanted to buy them ourselves (or gift them to family).

Next up, we’re looking forward to trying out our smart coffee cup—it keeps your coffee warm for up to 8 hours, which feels like a must-have for any coach or sideline parent braving cold mornings.

On the food side, we’ve hit a bit of a roadblock. We haven’t heard back from our New Zealand manufacturer for weeks, and while we really wanted to keep production local, we may need to start exploring other options, possibly overseas, to keep things moving forward.

I’ve also been researching potential athletes for our next virtual fan Q&A. Tracking down the right contacts for athletes, agents, and managers is proving to be a real mission, but we’re determined to make it happen. Meanwhile, I’m making sure everything is set up for our upcoming interview next week with Francis de Vries. Tech can be tricky (especially OBS), so I’m putting in extra preparation to keep it smooth.

We’re also confirming times to record some snippets of gold with nutritionist Katie Schofield and Erik Panzer—former professional footballer, NCAA athlete, and founder of Panzer Performance. We can’t wait to share their insights with you.

Social media continues to be a learning curve—experimenting with schedules, fonts, colours, and figuring out what resonates. To be honest, it can feel disheartening when our newsletter open rates or posts don’t get the traction we hoped for. But every now and then, one of you sends a kind message or shares your story, and that’s what keeps us going.

And on a less cheerful note, poor Ben has come down with Covid and is feeling pretty rough. I’m wishing Ben a quick recovery!

Thanks for being here, for reading, and for supporting us. It means more than you know.

🌟 Let’s Dive Into This Week’s Newsletter

Discover how to make you and your athletes next leap - not just surviving transitions, but growing through them.

There comes a moment in every athlete’s journey when change is inevitable. Maybe it’s the day your child moves up to a higher-level team and realises the game is faster and the expectations higher. Maybe it’s when a trusted coach steps away, and someone new steps in with different drills, a new voice, and fresh ideas. Or maybe it’s that first competition against opponents who seem stronger, more experienced, or more confident.

These transitions can be both exciting and unsettling. They bring a rush of possibilities—a chance to grow, to test limits, and to discover new strengths. But they also bring doubt: Am I good enough? Will I fit in? What if I fail?

It’s completely normal to feel all of that at once.

This week’s newsletter is here to help you and your young athlete navigate these crossroads with resilience, purpose, and momentum. Because while change is inevitable, how you respond to it is what defines the journey.

💬 Athlete Wisdom: Quotes to Inspire Your Journey

Transitions are rarely comfortable, but they are the moments that shape character.

🎯 Recommended Resources to Dive Deeper

If you’re looking for more ways to help your young athlete (and yourself) feel steady through change, here are some of our favorite books and podcasts. These resources are packed with real stories, practical tools, and fresh perspectives on growth, resilience, and navigating transitions.

🎧 Finding Mastery Podcast
Hosted by high-performance psychologist Michael Gervais, this podcast features in-depth conversations with world-class athletes, coaches, and performers about what it takes to thrive in pressure-filled environments. You’ll hear how top competitors manage setbacks, adapt to new roles, and keep learning no matter what level they reach.

Great for: Listening on the way to training or school runs.

📖 Wolfpack by Abby Wambach

In this short, inspiring read, soccer legend Abby Wambach shares her story of stepping out of the spotlight to lead in new ways. She talks honestly about adjusting to different roles on the team, passing the torch to younger players, and redefining what success looks like—not as individual glory, but as collective growth.

One of her most powerful reminders:

Great for: Young athletes learning to embrace new challenges and anyone navigating change with courage.

📖 Open by Andre Agassi

This candid, bestselling memoir tells the story of tennis champion Andre Agassi, who struggled with self-doubt and burnout even while competing at the highest level. He shares how he wrestled with self-doubt, adapted to new coaching approaches, and eventually learned to define success on his own terms.

Great for: Young athletes and parents who want an honest look at how growth isn’t always a straight line.

🧩 Personal Stories from Our Family

⚽ Bella’s Season of Change

Sometimes, I’m not sure whether the transition belongs more to our kids or to us as parents watching from the sidelines.

Our daughter Bella, who’s 16, plays football mostly for the love of being part of a team. She’s in the Girls XL squad at her small high school—the only girls’ football team they have. Last year, the team finished second in Division Two. The girls really clicked as a group. During the week, Bella’s PE teacher ran their trainings—he’s amazing with the kids and really knows his stuff. But on game days, they had a different teacher stepping in as the coach. I was grateful we had someone there to help, but it was tricky at times because what was taught during the week didn’t always match what was said on the sideline on Saturdays.

This year, things shifted again. The school brought in two new paid coaches—one for the boys and one for the girls. Right from the start, it felt different.

Bella has always been a winger. She might be small, but she’s quick. Her game is simple: get the ball out wide, beat her defender, and cross it in. That’s where she feels confident. But when the new coach arrived, he started her in midfield for the first few games.

I remember telling Bella, “If you’re not comfortable, you should talk to your coach.” She told me she didn’t mind, but as her parent, I had the sense she did—it just wasn’t something she wanted to say out loud.

It’s funny how as adults, we want our kids to advocate for themselves, but sometimes they aren’t quite ready. And that’s okay, too.

After a few weeks of training and watching her play, the coach realised that the wing really was where Bella could make the biggest impact for the team. She moved back into her usual position, and you could see her confidence come flooding back. She’s been assisting goals again, and the team is currently sitting top of the table.

Watching her adjust reminded me that transitions don’t always look dramatic from the outside. Sometimes they’re quiet. Sometimes they’re just a small moment when your child feels a bit out of place, and you have to trust the process—and trust the coach—to help them find their way back to what feels right.

⚽ Will’s New Role on the Pitch

Again, just like with Bella, sometimes, the hardest part of transitions isn’t watching your child adjust—it’s adjusting yourself as the parent.

Our son Will is 14 and plays football for both his school and club teams. He’s always been a winger. That’s his comfort zone: out wide, using his pace to beat defenders. But this year, he’s stepped up into the U16 squad, playing with older boys, which is already a big shift. And in this group, he’s no longer the fastest on the pitch—a new challenge he’s learning to navigate.

He spent the first half of the season in his usual spot on the wing. Then his coach told him he’d like to try him at right back. When Will shared the news, I’ll be honest—it took me a moment. Tackling is one part of his game that’s still developing, and my first instinct was to worry about how he’d cope.

But once again, Will surprised me. He said, “Mum, as long as I’m getting time on the pitch, and if playing that position helps the team, that’s okay. It’ll make me a better football player.”

Last Sunday, the boys had an away game, and it was Will’s first time starting at right back. Before he left, I reminded him to just try his best (that’s all we ever ask for) and to keep a good attitude. He’s still learning that when things aren’t going well, it shows all over his face. But to his credit, he’s getting better at staying steady on the pitch and venting it out in the car (well some days, like I said it’s a work in progress!).

I was nervous for him. I didn’t want his confidence to take a hit.

But Will had a great game. From the sideline, I could hear his coach praising him for his runs (overlaps, underlaps). He didn’t get subbed once and played the whole game at right back, which was a big step for him. A few of his teammates came up afterward to tell him he’d done really well. It was exactly the boost he needed.

The boys won that day. Next week will be a different challenge—they’re up against the top team in the league—but for now, he’s walking a little taller.

Watching him reminded me that sometimes growth looks like trying something completely new, even when it makes you (or your mum) a little nervous.

 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦  For Parents: Supporting Your Child Through Transitions

These changes can test your child’s confidence—and sometimes yours too. You might worry whether they’ll fit in, whether the coach will understand them, or whether they’ll still love their sport. That’s normal.

Here are five ways you can be their anchor during times of change:

✅ 1. Stay Calm and Positive
Your outlook shapes theirs more than you might realise. If you approach a new team, coach, or competition level with calm curiosity instead of anxiety, they’re more likely to mirror that attitude.

Try using language that frames change as a learning adventure:

• “This is a chance to discover what you can do.”

• “Every great athlete has been the new kid at some point.”

If they see you treating this as an exciting step, it can ease their worries.

✅ 2. Keep Perspective
It’s easy to panic if the first practice doesn’t go smoothly or your child feels out of place. Remind yourself (and them) that adjusting takes time—sometimes weeks or months.

Ask questions that zoom out from immediate frustrations:

• “When you look back on this in a year, what do you think you’ll remember?”

• “What’s one thing you’ve already improved on since you started?”

These questions help them see the bigger picture and feel less pressure to be perfect right away.

✅ 3. Listen More Than You Fix
When your child shares that something is hard—like feeling behind or unsure—your first instinct might be to offer solutions or reassurance right away. But often, what helps most is simply feeling heard.

Instead of jumping to fix it, try reflecting back what you hear:

• “It sounds like you’re feeling overwhelmed by the new drills.”

• “That must feel frustrating.”

Validating their feelings makes them feel understood and builds trust. Once they feel seen, they’re more open to problem-solving together.

✅ 4. Help Define Success
Wins and losses are only part of the story. Together, set goals that have nothing to do with the scoreboard:

🎯 Example Non-Outcome Goals:

• Make one new friend this month

• Learn something new from the coach each week

• Keep showing up, even on hard days

When success is measured in small, personal ways, your child is less likely to tie their confidence to outcomes they can’t always control.

✅ 5. Celebrate the Effort
At the end of the day, the most powerful thing you can do is celebrate their courage to try. Even when they feel uncertain, they’re showing resilience by showing up.

Remind them:

Small acknowledgements—like a high five after practice or a note in their lunchbox—help them feel valued beyond performance.

Even if they don’t always say it, your steady encouragement means the world.

✨  Takeaway Toolbox

When kids move to a new team or position, curiosity helps them learn instead of shutting down.

  ✅Your Challenge This Week

We’ve talked before about the power of journalling to help young athletes process their experiences and build self-awareness. A number of the experts we’ve interviewed—nutritionists, psychologists, and professional athletes—have shared that journalling was one of their most valuable tools during transitions.

Has anyone given it a go? If so, we’d love to hear how it’s working for your family.

If you haven’t tried it yet, this week is the perfect time to start a Transition Journal with your athlete.

Transitions can feel like a blur of new drills, names, and expectations. A simple journal helps slow things down and creates space to notice growth, challenges, and little wins along the way.

How to get started:

✅ Any notebook works—nothing fancy required. ✅ Younger kids can draw or use stickers if writing feels overwhelming. ✅ Older athletes might prefer using a notes app or even voice recordings.

Each week, help them note down:

✍️ What’s new What did you try or learn this week that you hadn’t before? Examples:

• A new position on the field

• A different warm-up routine

• Meeting a teammate from another club

🌧️ What’s hard What felt uncomfortable or challenging? Examples:

• Keeping up with faster players

• Understanding a coach’s instructions

• Missing old teammates

🎈 What’s exciting What are you looking forward to or enjoying? Examples:

• Feeling stronger

• Making new friends

• Learning something you’ve always wanted to try

🌟 One thing you’re proud of Big or small—what’s one moment you feel good about? Examples:

• Showing up even when nervous

• Encouraging a teammate

• Improving a skill

Tip for parents: Set aside a few minutes each week to sit together and talk about what they’ve written. You don’t need to solve every problem—sometimes, just listening is the most powerful support of all.

💬 Parting Thought

Transitions can feel like standing on the edge of something big and unknown. But often, it’s in these moments—when you’re stretched, challenged, and just a little unsure—that you grow into the athlete, teammate, and person you were meant to be.

Remind your young athlete (and yourself):

Here’s to the courage to keep stepping forward.

Talk soon,
Ben & Billinda
The Game Changer / Fuelling Youth Athletes