Parent Question

How does Ryan O’Connor coach athletes through pressure?

Short answer

In Episode 45, Ryan recommends naming pressure honestly and training athletes to function within it rather than pretending it is absent. She also describes practicing failure, processing what happened and preparing for the next opportunity with support.

The CDU explanation

What that means in practice

Ryan’s goal-setting phrase is: “We steer where we stare.” Her focus is on choices that move an athlete toward a goal. She distinguishes honest acknowledgment of feelings from letting those feelings decide behavior: “Your feelings are your feelings. Your feelings are not your choices.” This is educational coaching perspective, not mental-health treatment.

Expert context

Season 1 sources

Ryan Martin O’Connor
Episode 45
University of Kentucky Cheerleading head coach sharing her Episode 45 athlete-and-coach perspective.

Last reviewed 2026-10-30

Season 1 evidence

Episodes that cover this

EP 45Cheer Dads Unfiltered – Episode 45: The Human Inside the Uniform with Kentucky Cheer’s Ryan Martin O’Connorwith Ryan Martin O’Connor

Who told us this

Related experts

RYAN MARTIN O’CONNORHEAD COACH • UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY CHEERLEADING

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