The sports experience today is vastly different for teenage athletes, parents, and coaches. Unlike previous generations, it is marked by a variety of new challenges and pressures:

Teenage athletes are not just managing the highs and lows of competition, but are also navigating complex social dynamics both on and off the field.
There are countless demands that young athletes, parents, and coaches must balance. Academics, training schedules, careers, social lives, carpools and family commitments all vie for their time and energy.
The rise of social media and smartphones adds another layer of complexity. For many, navigating the digital world is overwhelming and confusing. It can be challenging to manage the pressures of maintaining an online presence while dealing with the potential for cyberbullying, social comparison, and distraction from athletic and academic pursuits.
Parents want the best for their children. They are often caught between supporting their child’s ambitions and protecting their well-being. Ensuring their children have a positive sports experience while also preparing them for future challenges is a delicate balance.
The expectations to excel not just in sports, but also academically and socially, can be daunting. This pressure can come from parents, coaches, peers, and even the athletes themselves, creating a high-stakes environment that can be difficult to manage.

Mental and emotional challenges, both on and off the field, are often caused by…

Unprocessed and misunderstood feelings

Not knowing how to normalize and navigate failure

An inability to manage fame and success

That’s why we exist.

We are a non-profit organization that helps teenage athletes, parents, and coaches process the feelings, normalize the failures, and manage the fame that comes with the sports experience.

How We Do It:

Conversations
Webinars | Podcasts | Speaking

Engaging webinars, insightful podcasts, and dynamic speaking engagements, offering versatile platforms for sharing knowledge and fostering interactive discussions.

Content
Workbook | Digital Community | Team Resources

Delivered through a workbook, a curated "Weekend in a Kit” experience for travel sports programs, and an interactive digital community, each offering hands-on learning experiences.

Conferences
National | Regional | Ambassador

Organized on different scales, we offer national, regional, and Ambassadors conferences to create transformational in-person experiences.

Coaching
1 on 1 | Team & Group | Ambassador

Tailored to individual needs through 1-on-1 sessions, enhanced through team or program- based approaches, and expanded by utilizing Ambassadors to guide larger communities.

Click below to learn more or to work with our team:

At the core of everything we teach are the key emotional intelligence concepts of awareness, balance, and connection.

Listen Up!

Join 2016 World Series MVP Ben Zobrist and John Harrison, VP of Champion Forward, as they explore and discuss the balance and relationship between elite sports performance and emotional health.

On the show, they interview both current and former professional athletes, their family members, their coaches, and the team around them to hear their unique perspectives on their journey. They also dive into their distinct purposes as human beings that transcend their performance as athletes.

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Ben Zobrist, Founder

Ben is a former Major League Baseball player and two-time World Series champion (including the 2016 World Series MVP). As a player, he was renowned for his versatility, consistency, and leadership. Over his 14 year career, Ben played for the Tampa Bay Rays, Oakland Athletics, Kansas City Royals, and Chicago Cubs, earning three All-Star selections. Known for his ability to play multiple positions effectively, he brought a unique blend of skill and adaptability to the game.

During his playing career, Ben faced many challenges including physical injuries and mental health issues. After retiring from baseball, he decided to focus his time, energy and attention on learning more about the mental and emotional side of being human. This led him to launch Champion Forward, allowing him to live out his passion of positively impacting and serving the sports community.

As a mental and emotional health advocate, Ben is committed to sharing his story and empowering others to learn, grow and heal from mental and emotional health issues. His desire is to help teenage athletes, parents, and coaches experience the sports journey in a healthy, sustainable, and successful way.