In this episode of Untapped Stories, we sit down with Abby Kenkelen - our of our best coaches and a standout on Brandeis' Women’s Soccer team - who just wrapped up a season averaging 60+ minutes per game. That kind of consistency doesn’t happen by accident… and Abby will be the first to tell you why.

Because if you spend any time around youth sports today, you hear the same question over and over:

“How do I earn more playing time?”

Most athletes think the answer is politics. Or talent. Or hoping the coach just notices them. But Abby flips that mindset completely. Her message to young players is simple, direct, and incredibly refreshing: Speak up.

Throughout her career, whenever her minutes dipped or she felt unsure about her role, Abby didn’t complain, guess, or hope things would magically change. She asked her coach for 3–4 specific things she needed to improve. And then she went all-in on those details until the boxes were checked.

Because at the end of the day, coaches respect athletes who take ownership. They respect players who ask for clarity, pursue feedback, and put in intentional work instead of excuses. And Abby insists on something most athletes never hear: If you attack the feedback, your coach will have no choice but to give you an opportunity.

But this conversation goes way deeper than playing time.

We talk about the power of mentorship — a theme that has shaped Abby’s entire journey as both a college athlete and now a private coach on Athletes Untapped. Abby explains why 1v1 coaching matters far beyond the skill work you see on the surface. Private training teaches responsibility. It accelerates confidence. It forces athletes to own their development instead of outsourcing it.

Abby also dives into the parts of player development young athletes overlook all the time:

- The difference between “working hard” and working deliberately

- How to approach feedback without getting defensive

- Why every athlete should build a relationship with their coach

- What separates players who consistently see the field from those who don’t

- How mentorship unlocks growth that team practices alone can’t provide

- Why the best competitors she knows take notes, ask questions, and chase accountability

- How 1v1 coaching fast-tracks maturity both on and off the field

Her story is a reminder that development isn’t passive. It’s intentional. It’s uncomfortable. It’s earned through humility, communication, and consistent effort — long before the whistle blows.

At Athletes Untapped, we believe great coaching transforms more than skills. It builds leaders. It builds confidence. And it builds athletes who take ownership of their path — exactly the mindset Abby brings to every session she coaches.

🎙️ Untapped Stories is presented by https://athletesuntapped.com — the nation’s #1 platform for private sports coaching. Our mission is to help athletes reach their full potential by connecting them with great coaches who elevate both skill and mindset.

Listen weekly on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, and follow us on Instagram for clips and highlights: https://www.instagram.com/athletesuntapped/