This past weekend, I was invited by Coach Jose Sanchez to lead a mental skills and leadership station at the Her Is Us Foundation’s Banderas United Girls Flag Football Event. Coach Sanchez created both the foundation and Banderas United to give girls ages 7–18 the opportunity to experience one of the fastest-growing sports in the country: girls flag football.
Nearly 150 athletes of all experience levels attended the event, learning and competing alongside one another throughout the day.
Athletes rotated through eight stations focused on footwork, throwing, catching, and flag-pulling skills. Each station was led by experienced coaches, and one of the most impactful aspects of the clinic was the presence of player leaders, high school and college athletes who are currently playing or being recruited to play at the collegiate level. I was struck by the amount of leadership on the field and the powerful example these athletes provided for the younger girls watching them.
While the athletes spent the day developing their physical skills, my station focused on training their minds.
We talked about how mistakes are a normal part of both sports and life. What matters most is not the mistake itself, but how we respond afterward. My message was simple: we can’t change the past, but we can influence the present.
I taught the athletes a simple reset routine that combined a visual cue, a verbal cue, and a deep breath. We practiced the skill through a fun movement game, and then they headed back out to the field with a tool they could use immediately during competition.
One of my favorite parts of the event was watching the girls make the sport their own.
The level of athleticism on display was impressive. Athletes sprinted across the field, made incredible one-handed catches, and used quick footwork and hip movement to avoid having their flags pulled. At the same time, they brought their own style and personality to the game, bedazzled cleats, sparkly gloves, and curled ponytails flying behind them as they ran.
The environment was energetic and competitive, but what stood out most was how supportive it felt. Older players cheered for younger athletes, celebrated big plays, and encouraged one another throughout the day. It was a powerful reminder that sports can be both highly competitive and deeply connected.
During the closing circle, Coach Sanchez made a surprise announcement that brought the entire event to life.
As a college coach, he offered four athletes in attendance scholarships to play for him. Watching their faces light up was a moment I won’t forget. The opportunity to attend college while continuing to play a sport they love has the potential to change the trajectory of their lives. The entire group erupted in cheers as they celebrated alongside them.
While those scholarship offers will have a direct impact on four young women, Coach Sanchez’s message reached every athlete in attendance.
He showed the younger girls what is possible. Through hard work, dedication, and belief in themselves, they too can pursue opportunities that may seem far away today. Just a few years ago, girls flag football wasn’t even a sanctioned sport in many places. Now, young athletes are earning college scholarships through the game they love.
It was uplifting, inspiring, and powerful to witness.
I am grateful to Coach Sanchez, the Her Is Us Foundation, and everyone involved for creating opportunities that help girls grow as athletes, leaders, and future changemakers. Days like this remind me that sports are about so much more than wins and losses. They are about building confidence, community, and expanding what young people believe is possible.
