
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:
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Ambassador Program
This program is the heart of Champion Forward. It exists to empower parents and coaches to impact teenage athletes, both on and off the field, by championing mental and emotional health in sports.
Our 8-week virtual program equips you with tools, resources, and a supportive community to:
- Process and understand emotions
- Navigate failure and challenges
- Celebrate success and fame with balance
Through our Learn it, Live it, Link it approach, you'll gain skills to make a meaningful impact in your community while fostering healthier sports experiences for teenage athletes.
Join us & become a Champion Forward Ambassador today!
You can learn more or work with our team below!
At the core of everything we teach are the key emotional intelligence concepts of awareness, balance, and connection.
Listen Up!
The Champion Forward Podcast explores the connection between elite sports performance and mental and emotional well-being. Join Founder and 2016 World Series MVP Ben Zobrist and John Harrison, VP of Champion Forward, as they engage in meaningful conversations on emotional intelligence, resilience, and connection in athletics.
Focused on fostering a mentally and emotionally healthy sports experience, the podcast highlights strategies for personal growth, balance, and fulfillment—both on and off the field. Through discussions with Ambassador Program graduates, athletes, coaches, and other key voices in sports, each episode uncovers unique perspectives on the sports experience.
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.
Upcoming Programs
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Ambassador Program
Weekly Virtual Course
August - October 2025 -
Ambassador Program
Weekly Virtual Course
October - December 2025