3 Barriers Keeping Women Out of Coaching (and 3 Fixes That Actually Work) If we want more women in coaching, we have to stop treating it like a motivation problem. It’s a system design problem. Here are the 3 barriers I see most often (across beach volleyball and other sports) - and the fixes that move the needle. Barrier 1: No visible pathway Many athletes never even consider coaching, because they rarely see women in the role. If you can’t picture it, you don’t plan it. (I have to say the NCAA is doing an excellent job right now!!) Solution: Make the pathway visible and structured. - “Coach shadowing day” for athletes - Clear steps: shadowing → assistant reps → paid role - Publicly highlight women in staff roles (not once a year - consistently) Barrier 2: No real seats (only “support”) Courses and certificates don’t create coaches. Seats do. If women don’t get assistant roles, shadowing access, and real reps, the pipeline stays empty. Solution: Seat policy (non-negotiable). - Every camp/event block guarantees at least 1 female assistant/shadowing seat - Defined “reps” inside practice (warm-up, drill segment, feedback protocol) - Rotation system so more women get access without hiring immediately Barrier 3: Mentoring stays informal Advice is everywhere. Sponsorship is rare. Many women get encouragement, but not access. Solution: Mentoring + sponsorship as a system. - Mentor matching (with prompts and standards) - A sponsor inside the organization who opens doors - Simple tracking: who got seats, who progressed, who stayed The bottom line If you want change, don’t run a campaign. Build a pipeline. Quick framework: Seats + Mentoring/Sponsorship + KPIs. Question for you: If you could change ONE thing in your environment this month to bring more women into coaching, what would it be - visibility, seats, or mentoring?

This is the free community for athletes and coaches who want practical mindset tools without the fluff. What you get here (free): - Weekly Mindset Drill (5-10 min) - Wins + Accountability thread - Occasional open Q&A sessions - Selected resources that you can apply immediately How to use this community: 1) Introduce yourself in the Introductions category: - Sport + role (athlete/coach) - Biggest current challenge - One goal for the next 30 days 2) Do the weekly drill and comment with your takeaway 3) Post wins (small wins count) - momentum matters Community rules: - Be respectful. No ego games. - Practical over performative. - No gossip, no screenshots, no sharing other people’s stories outside this group. Want the deeper work? If you want weekly live Q&A, deeper templates, and structured accountability, join the paid membership (details in the pinned post “Upgrade to Mindset Club”). Now: introduce yourself and tell us what you’re working on this season.

For athletes/coaches who want routines that transfer into competition. If you’re here, you’re not looking for motivation for one day. You're looking for a mindset that holds when it gets hard. This community is for athletes (and coaches) who want to perform with clarity under pressure - and build habits that actually transfer into competition. What you can expect here Each week you’ll get: - One simple mindset tool you can use the same day - One challenge that takes 5-10 minutes - One discussion thread where you can ask, reflect, and get feedback - Zero fluff - only what works in real sport environments My approach is practical: nervous system, focus, confidence, communication, leadership - built into repeatable routines. The “Start Strong” rule January doesn’t need a perfect plan. It needs a clean reset and a system you can repeat. So here is your first community challenge: The 7-Day Athlete Reset (10 minutes/day) This is designed for athletes with school, work, travel, training - real life. Day 1: Identity + Standard (3 minutes) Write one sentence: “I am the kind of athlete who ______.” Then add one standard you live by:“My standard is ______ even when I don’t feel like it.” Day 2: The 90-Second Reset (5 minutes) Practice 4 rounds of box breathing: 4 in - 4 hold - 4 out - 4 hold. Then choose one cue for your next rep:“Wide vision.” “Fast first step.” “Commit to the call.”One cue. Not five. Day 3: Pressure Reframe (5 minutes) Complete this sentence:“Pressure means ______.” Now rewrite it into something useful:“Pressure means I care, and I can still choose my next action.” Day 4: Self-talk Audit (5 minutes) Catch one recurring thought that hurts performance. Replace it with a performance sentence:From: “Don’t mess up.”To: “See it early. Move first. Play free.” Day 5: Micro-Confidence (7 minutes) Confidence is built by evidence. Write 3 proof points from last season/week: - “I improved at ______.” - “I showed up when ______.” - “I handled ______ better than before.”

Hey team 👋I’m Sara “Monti” Montagnolli - former pro beach volleyball player, mentor, and mindset coach. I’m beyond excited to have you here! This community was created for athletes and coaches who are ready to grow - not just in results, but as human beings. Here we talk about everything that shapes performance: mindset, communication, resilience, and how to keep joy alive through it all. You’ll find: 💡 Real insights and tools that I’ve learned throughout my career - from world championships to everyday training. 🎯 Honest conversations about the mental and emotional side of sport. 🤝 A respectful, supportive space where you can share wins, challenges, and questions. No filters. No judgment. Just real people who love their sport and want to keep getting better — together. 🌱 What You Can Expect ✅ Posts, prompts, and reflections to help you think and grow. ✅ Stories and lessons from my time as Austria’s first female pro beach volleyball player. ✅ Occasional live calls and “Mindset Monday” sessions. ✅ A space to ask for input, advice, or a gentle nudge forward when you need it. I’d love to get to know you all - so please introduce yourself below 👇 Tell us: 1️⃣ Your name & sport 2️⃣ What brought you here 3️⃣ One area of your mental game you’d like to strengthen Let’s start connecting and growing right away. Keep growing. Keep playing. Keep high-fiving your wins. – Monti 💛🏐