Like a Champion: A Story About Building Confidence

By Todd M. Mealy

Champion did not possess the confidence to do what he loved – gymnastics! He thought he was too slow to master the flips and springs it takes to be a good gymnast. He was frightened to even try when others watched him practice. In this tale about patience, building confidence, and focusing on his own improvement, Champion learns to overcome his doubts by listening to every instruction delivered by his coach.

A story inspired by challenges so many young athletes face, the authors designed this book to help parents, teachers, and youth coaches talk to young children about fear and anxiety over competitive athletics. The book includes common core aligned questions that teachers can utilize with student.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Nov 10, 2023
• ISBN: 9798886934687

Todd M. Mealy

Todd M. Mealy is an educator, football coach, and author of books and articles related to sports and civil-rights history. A classroom instructor of more than two decades in secondary and postsecondary education, Todd holds a Ph.D. from Penn State University, where his dissertation received the institution’s highest distinction in the field of American Studies. Carter is a talented student-athlete who once felt nervous about performing in front of older competition. Luckily, Carter’s interest in storytelling helped him find a solution to overcome his anxiety. Todd and Carter live in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, with wife/mom, Melissa, and daughter/sister, Adeline.

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