The Resilient Young Athlete

Real Athletes. Real Stories. Real Mental Toughness.My name is Carol Robins, and I believe success in sports starts with mentality. Over the past 17 years I’ve been honoured to work with some incredibly talented young athletes, their parents, and coaches. I have been a part of championship-winning teams, worked with national level youth athletes, and toured the world as both a sports scientist and coach. These experiences - both at home and internationally - have helped shape my approach to youth athlete development and led to my national recognition as Australian Accredited Sports Scientist of the Year 2024. The Resilient Young Athlete is the result of my experience and a guide I wish every youth athlete, parent, and coach had - a powerful blueprint to unlock resilience, build unshakable confidence, and create a future where potential knows no limits. Inside, you’ll discover actionable strategies, inspiring stories, and science-backed techniques to help young athletes:Develop a growth mindset that thrives on improvement and opportunityConquer doubts, sharpen focus, and stay composed under pressureSet and achieve SMART goals that pave the way to successElevate performance with training and game-day techniques used by the world’s best pro-athletesHandle criticism constructively and turn the tables in your favorEmbrace the pivotal role of failure and emerge stronger than ever from setbacksFor parents and coaches, specific sections offer practical strategies to strengthen your young athlete’s mental game and foster lasting confidence.You’ll also meet two inspiring athletes whose journeys bring these lessons to life. In the USA, NCHSAA and AAU basketballer Ruben Borg, and in the UK former Burnley FC and 2023 championship-winning Wrexham FC goalkeeper Kai Calderbank-Park. Their powerful stories showcasing the mindset needed to turn dreams into reality.With a foreword by dual Olympic track and field coach Mel Smith, The Resilient Young Athlete offers a customisable toolkit for building mental toughness, and recognises that every athlete’s journey is unique.The best is yet to come.