Sports Psychology Coaching

Do you perform well in practice but struggle to play at the same level during games? Many athletes feel confident, relaxed, and free in practice, but once competition begins, they start overthinking, feeling anxious, and worrying about mistakes. In this episode, I explain why you play better in practice than in games and how to build the mindset to perform with more confidence and consistency in competition.

👉 Want help with your mental game? Learn more about my 1-on-1 Mental Performance Coaching: https://www.successstartswithin.com/mental-performance-coaching/

I work one-on-one with athletes to help them overcome performance anxiety, fear of failure, overthinking, low confidence, and other mental blocks that keep them from performing their best in competition.

In this episode, you'll learn why practice and game performance often don't match, how pressure, sports performance anxiety, and fear of failure change how you think and play, and why focusing too much on outcomes can keep you from trusting your skills in games.

I'll also walk you through strategies to overcome the fear of mistakes, manage performance anxiety, shift your attention from outcomes to the process, and build a stronger performing mindset. We'll discuss how to practice this mindset during training so you can play with greater freedom, trust, and confidence when it matters most.

Not quite ready for 1-on-1 coaching? Learn more about the two self-paced online courses I have available.

👉 The Confident Competitor Academy: https://www.successstartswithin.com/confident-competitor-academy/

👉 The Mentally Tough Kid: https://www.successstartswithin.com/the-mentally-tough-kid/

📖 Read my complete guide to Why You Perform Well in Practice But Not Games (And How to Fix This):
https://www.successstartswithin.com/sports-psychology-articles/mental-performance-coaching/why-you-perform-well-in-practice-but-not-games-and-how-to-fix-this/

Listen to the Podcast

If you want more in-depth mental training episodes like this:

🎧 Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/1DkRcMhKcNDcw4SaiKyMaO?si=0b51f098625f4949
Work with me!
🧠 1-1 Mental Performance Coaching for Athletes: https://www.successstartswithin.com/mental-performance-coaching/

👉 Confident Competitor Academy: Go from playing with fear & anxiety to playing with confidence in just 6 weeks!

👉 Mentally Tough Kid Course (for youth athletes)

📖 Mind Games Book: https://a.co/d/gXZfORN

📖 Athlete Mental Training Book: https://a.co/d/bfojamY

Free Training: Top 5 Mental Mistakes Athletes Make

*This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute psychological or medical treatment. I am a mental performance coach, not a licensed psychologist. For clinical concerns, consult a licensed professional.

Negative self-talk in sports can undermine athletes' confidence, lead to overthinking, fear mistakes, and make it hard to perform at their best during games. In this episode, I explain how self-talk affects athletic performance, how to overcome negative self-talk, and how to develop more positive, productive thinking to compete with greater confidence.

👉 Want help with your mental game? Learn more about my 1-on-1 Mental Performance Coaching: https://www.successstartswithin.com/mental-performance-coaching/

I work one-on-one with athletes to help them overcome performance anxiety, fear of failure, overthinking, low confidence, and other mental blocks that keep them from performing their best in competition.

In this episode, you'll learn what self-talk is in sports, the difference between direct and indirect self-talk, how automatic thoughts develop, and how your thinking influences your confidence, focus, emotions, and performance through the thought-feeling-action cycle.

I'll also show you how to practice positive self-talk as an athlete, change negative thinking in the moment, and build a daily self-talk routine to boost confidence and improve your natural thought patterns.

We'll cover self-talk before, during, and after competition, including instructional self-talk, resetting after mistakes, and managing negative thoughts during games. I'll also explain common self-talk mistakes athletes should avoid, such as forcing positive thinking, using statements they don't believe, and overthinking during competition.

Not quite ready for 1-1 coaching? Learn more about my two self-paced online courses.

👉 The Confident Competitor Academy: https://www.successstartswithin.com/confident-competitor-academy/

👉 The Mentally Tough Kid: https://www.successstartswithin.com/the-mentally-tough-kid/

CHAPTERS

0:00 Intro
1:44 What Is Self-Talk in Sports?
3:32 Automatic vs Deliberate Self-Talk
5:15 How Self-Talk Affects Athletic Performance
9:32 Understanding Negative Self-Talk in Athletes
13:12 Changing Negative Thinking During Games
22:50 Reframing Thinking
26:18 Using Self-Talk Before, During, and After Competition
28:48 Common Self-Talk Mistakes Athletes Should Avoid
32:08 One-On-One Mental Coaching to Improve Your Self-Talk

📖 Read my complete guide to Self-Talk in Sports: https://www.successstartswithin.com/sports-psychology-articles/self-talk-for-sports/how-to-practice-positive-self-talk-as-an-athlete/

Listen to the Podcast

If you want more in-depth mental training episodes like this:

🎧 Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/1DkRcMhKcNDcw4SaiKyMaO?si=0b51f098625f4949
Work with me!
🧠 1-1 Mental Performance Coaching for Athletes: https://www.successstartswithin.com/mental-performance-coaching/

👉 Confident Competitor Academy: Go from playing with fear & anxiety to playing with confidence in just 6 weeks!

👉 Mentally Tough Kid Course (for youth athletes)

📖 Mind Games Book: https://a.co/d/gXZfORN

📖 Athlete Mental Training Book: https://a.co/d/bfojamY

Free Training: Top 5 Mental Mistakes Athletes Make

*This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute psychological or medical treatment. I am a mental performance coach, not a licensed psychologist. For clinical concerns, consult a licensed professional.

Pressure in sports can cause athletes to overthink, force outcomes, play scared, and struggle to perform freely when the moment matters most. In this episode, I explain how to perform under pressure in sports, why some athletes choke, and how to play your best in big moments.
👉 Want help with your mental game? Learn more about my 1-on-1 Mental Performance Coaching: https://www.successstartswithin.com/mental-performance-coaching/
I work one-on-one with athletes to help them overcome performance anxiety, fear of failure, overthinking, low confidence, and other mental blocks that keep them from performing their best in competition.
In this episode, you'll learn what pressure in sports is, why some athletes choke under pressure, and how pressure can actually improve your performance when you respond the right way.
I'll also explain the key to performing your best under pressure, including how to keep things simple, focus on the process, stick to your routines, embrace pressure-filled moments, and use your breathing to stay composed. I’ll also cover how to handle the physical feelings of pressure and ways you can train for pressure before you need to perform under it.
Not quite ready for 1-1 coaching? Learn more about the two self-paced online courses I have available. 
👉 The Confident Competitor Academy: https://www.successstartswithin.com/confident-competitor-academy/
👉 The Mentally Tough Kid: https://www.successstartswithin.com/the-mentally-tough-kid/
CHAPTERS
0:00 Intro
3:11 What is Pressure in Sports?
6:15 Why Some Athletes Choke Under Pressure
11:10 How Pressure Can Improve Performance
14:04 The Key to Performing Under Pressure
28:52 How to Handle the Physical Feelings of Pressure
30:31 How to Train for Pressure
34:42 One-On-One Mental Coaching
📖 Read my complete guide to Performing Under Pressure: https://www.successstartswithin.com/sports-psychology-articles/focus-training-for-sports/how-to-perform-your-best-in-pressure-situations-during-games/

Listen to the Podcast
If you want more in-depth mental training episodes like this:
🎧 Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/1DkRcMhKcNDcw4SaiKyMaO?si=0b51f098625f4949
Work with me!
🧠 1-1 Mental Performance Coaching for Athletes: https://www.successstartswithin.com/mental-performance-coaching/

👉 Confident Competitor Academy: Go from playing with fear & anxiety to playing with confidence in just 6 weeks!

👉 Mentally Tough Kid Course (for youth athletes)

📖 Mind Games Book: https://a.co/d/gXZfORN

📖 Athlete Mental Training Book: https://a.co/d/bfojamY

Free Training: Top 5 Mental Mistakes Athletes Make

*This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute psychological or medical treatment. I am a mental performance coach, not a licensed psychologist. For clinical concerns, consult a licensed professional.

Mental toughness in sports is the ability to stay confident, focused, composed, and in control when pressure, mistakes, frustration, and adversity challenge your mindset. In this episode, I explain how to build mental toughness in sports and develop the mental skills you need to compete with a stronger, more resilient mindset.

👉 Want help with your mental game? Learn more about my 1-on-1 Mental Performance Coaching: https://www.successstartswithin.com/mental-performance-coaching/

Confidence episode
Fear of failure episode

I work one-on-one with athletes to help them build confidence, improve focus, respond better to mistakes, manage pressure, overcome performance anxiety and fear of failure, and develop greater control over their mindset during competition.

In this episode, you'll learn what mental toughness really means, what mental toughness looks like during competition, and the mental skills that help athletes stay mentally strong when games become difficult.

I'll break down the importance of controlling your thinking, building confidence and trust, staying focused on the present moment, managing emotions, and responding productively to mistakes and adversity.

I'll also walk you through practical mental toughness exercises you can use, including reframing negative thoughts, practicing mindfulness, evaluating performances productively, using performance objectives, and mental rehearsal.

Finally, I'll explain how to use these skills during games so you can recognize when your mentality starts to change, reset more quickly, and return to the mindset you want to compete with.

Not quite ready for 1-1 coaching? Learn more about the two self-paced online courses I have available.

👉 The Confident Competitor Academy: https://www.successstartswithin.com/confident-competitor-academy/

👉 The Mentally Tough Kid: https://www.successstartswithin.com/the-mentally-tough-kid/

📖 Read my complete guide to Mental Toughness in Sports: https://www.successstartswithin.com/sports-psychology-articles/athlete-mental-toughness/build-mental-toughness-in-sports/

Listen to the Podcast
If you want more in-depth mental training episodes like this:
🎧 Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/1DkRcMhKcNDcw4SaiKyMaO?si=0b51f098625f4949

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
1:16 What is mental toughness in sports
3:50 What mental toughness looks like during competition
10:53 The mental skills that make a mentally tough athlete
21:16 Mental training tools to build mental toughness
28:00 Be more mentally tough during games
32:30 1-1 mental coaching to build mental toughness in sports
Work with me!
🧠 1-1 Mental Performance Coaching for Athletes: https://www.successstartswithin.com/mental-performance-coaching/

👉 Confident Competitor Academy: Go from playing with fear & anxiety to playing with confidence in just 6 weeks!

👉 Mentally Tough Kid Course (for youth athletes)

📖 Mind Games Book: https://a.co/d/gXZfORN

📖 Athlete Mental Training Book: https://a.co/d/bfojamY

Free Training: Top 5 Mental Mistakes Athletes Make

*This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute psychological or medical treatment. I am a mental performance coach, not a licensed psychologist. For clinical concerns, consult a licensed professional.

Sports performance anxiety can cause athletes to overthink, tense up, fear mistakes, and struggle to perform as freely in games as they do in practice. In this episode, I explain how to overcome sports performance anxiety, manage nerves, and compete with more confidence and freedom.
👉 Want help with your mental game? Learn more about my 1-on-1 Mental Performance Coaching: https://www.successstartswithin.com/mental-performance-coaching/
I work one-on-one with athletes to help them overcome performance anxiety, fear of failure, overthinking, low confidence, and other mental blocks that keep them from performing their best in competition.
In this episode, you'll learn what sports performance anxiety is, why it happens, the physical and mental signs to look for, and how your thoughts, physical reactions, and behaviors can create an anxiety cycle.
I'll also walk you through the ABC strategy I use with athletes—Accept, Breathe, and Change Your Thinking—along with strategies for managing anxiety before games, building a stronger pregame routine, resetting during competition, responding to mistakes, and performing with more confidence under pressure.
Not quite ready for 1-1 coaching? Learn more about my two self-paced online courses I have available. 
👉 The Confident Competitor Academy: https://www.successstartswithin.com/confident-competitor-academy/

👉 The Mentally Tough Kid: https://www.successstartswithin.com/the-mentally-tough-kid/
📖 Read my complete guide to Sports Performance Anxiety: https://www.successstartswithin.com/sports-psychology-articles/sports-performance-anxiety/what-is-sports-performance-anxiety/
Work with me!
🧠 1-1 Mental Performance Coaching for Athletes: https://www.successstartswithin.com/mental-performance-coaching/

👉 Confident Competitor Academy: Go from playing with fear & anxiety to playing with confidence in just 6 weeks!

👉 Mentally Tough Kid Course (for youth athletes)

📖 Mind Games Book: https://a.co/d/gXZfORN

📖 Athlete Mental Training Book: https://a.co/d/bfojamY

Free Training: Top 5 Mental Mistakes Athletes Make

*This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute psychological or medical treatment. I am a mental performance coach, not a licensed psychologist. For clinical concerns, consult a licensed professional.