By Katie Vaughn | Photography by Hillary Schave
When Amy Crowe’s daughter Emily started getting serious about softball, the pair learned that often the biggest challenges of youth sports are mental, not physical.
“I realized that comparison, self-doubt and perfectionism were negatively impacting her mental health, and sports were supposed to be building her up and making her confident and resilient,” says Crowe.
With a desire to help both girl athletes and their mothers, Crowe launched the Sports Mom Mantra Instagram account, sharing inspiring quotes and photos. In 2024, she created the “Performance Journal” with Emily and two of her friends, and the following year she published the “Sports Mom Playbook,” packed with more than 100 “plays” that mothers can use to develop a game plan that supports a daughter’s mental and physical wellbeing.
“I wanted to share what I had learned, in a way where they could pick and choose plays based on what’s going on in her life,” Crowe says.
This August will bring a companion book, the “Girl Athlete Playbook,” and on September 19, Crowe will host the Fierce, Strong, Brave Experience, where sports moms and daughters can gather, share stories, connect, and find tools for building confidence and resilience.
Crowe also hopes to see her White Shorts Project gain momentum. She will share period product donation kit campaigns with Dane County school districts and club softball teams across Wisconsin so that having a period doesn’t prevent any girl from playing.
While Emily recently wrapped up her collegiate softball career, her mother remains inspired to continue supporting players and their families.
“I know there’s a girl athlete out there who needs this. I know there’s a sports mom out there who needs this. That’s what keeps me going,” says Crowe.
What podcast has influenced the way you think?
“Trish Blackwell’s ‘The Confidence Podcast.’ She’s a former college athlete and she handles topics like resilience and mindset work and self-sabotage. I’ve gotten so much value from it.”
