Sports Psychology Coaching
The Sports Psychology Coaching Podcast by Eli Straw is a mental training podcast for athletes, competitors, coaches, and performers who want to improve confidence, focus, and performance under pressure. This podcast teaches practical sports psychology strategies to help athletes overcome fear of failure, performance anxiety, overthinking, and loss of confidence after mistakes so they can trust their training and compete freely.Each episode covers key mental performance topics, including:• Sports psychology and mental training for athletes• How to build confidence in sports• Overcoming performance anxiety and pressure• Trusting your training and competing without fear• Focus, composure, and mental toughness in competitio...
10 Habits of Mentally Tough Athletes
What makes some athletes mentally tougher than others? In this episode, I share 10 habits that mentally tough athletes develop to stay confident, focused, and resilient under pressure. These habits aren't something you're born with. They're skills you can practice and strengthen over time.
If you're ready to improve your mental game with one-on-one coaching, click the link below to learn more.
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...
How to Help Your Child Stop Playing Scared in Sports
If your child plays scared in sports, they may be afraid of making mistakes, disappointing others, losing playing time, or failing under pressure. In this episode, I explain how parents can help young athletes overcome fear of failure, build confidence, and compete more freely during games.
If your child needs personalized help with sports anxiety, confidence, or playing scared, click the link below to learn more about my one-on-one mental performance coaching program.
Work with me!
🧠 1-1 Mental Performance Coaching for Athletes: https://www.successstartswithin.com/mental-performance-coaching/
<...How to Move On From Mistakes During Games (5 Simple Ways)
In this episode, I explain how to move on from mistakes during games so one bad play does not ruin your confidence, focus, or the rest of your performance.
If you struggle with frustration after mistakes, overthinking errors, or letting one mistake affect the rest of your game, this will help you mentally reset and continue competing with confidence.
For one-on-one mental performance coaching, click the link below.
Work with me!
🧠 1-1 Mental Performance Coaching for Athletes: https://www.successstartswithin.com/mental-performance-coaching/
...
5 Ways to Perform Better Under Pressure in Sports
In this episode, I explain how to perform better under pressure in sports so you can stop playing scared, handle high-pressure moments, and compete with greater confidence. If pressure, fear of making mistakes, or performance anxiety is holding you back, click the link below to learn more about one-on-one mental performance coaching.
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!
<...
10 Mental Mistakes Athletes Make That Hurt Performance
Mental mistakes can hurt your athletic performance even when you have the physical skills to succeed. In this episode, I explain the most common mental mistakes athletes make and how improving your mindset can help you build confidence, stay focused, and perform more consistently under pressure.
To learn more about one-on-one mental performance coaching, click the link below.
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...
10 Mental Skills Every Athlete Needs to Develop
Every athlete needs a strong mental game, but most athletes don’t know which mental skills they need to develop or how to improve them. In this episode, I break down the 10 most important mental skills for athletes so you can build confidence, stay focused, handle pressure, and perform more consistently in competition.
To learn more about one-on-one mental performance coaching, click the link below.
Work with me!
🧠 1-1 Mental Performance Coaching for Athletes: https://www.successstartswithin.com/mental-performance-coaching/
👉 Confident Competitor Academy: Go from p...
4 Ways to Stop Overthinking During Games
Overthinking during games can cause athletes to hesitate, play tight, lose confidence, and perform differently than they do in practice. In this episode, you’ll learn how to stop overthinking in sports, stay focused during competition, and trust your skills under pressure.
If overthinking is hurting your performance, click the link below to learn more about one-on-one mental performance coaching.
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 t...
Why You Play Better in Practice Than Games (And How to Fix It)
Do you play better in practice than in games? Pressure, fear of mistakes, and overthinking can make you tense, hesitant, and unable to trust the skills you consistently show during practice. In this episode, I explain why the practice-to-game gap happens, give you three steps to close it, and walk you through a simple exercise to create your own game-day performance plan.
If you’re ready to perform with more confidence and consistency in competition, click the link below to learn more about one-on-one mental performance coaching.
Work with me!
🧠 1-1
What Is Sports Psychology? How Mental Training Helps Athletes
What is sports psychology, and how can it help athletes perform better? In this episode, I explain how thoughts and emotions affect sports performance, how sports psychology becomes practical mental training, and how athletes can strengthen the mental side of their game.
If you want personalized help improving your mental performance, click the link below to learn more about 1-on-1 mental performance coaching.
Work with me!
🧠 1-1 Mental Performance Coaching for Athletes: https://www.successstartswithin.com/mental-performance-coaching/
👉 Confident Competitor Academy: Go from playing...
10 Ways to Improve Your Mental Game in Sports
These 10 ways to improve your mental game in sports will help you develop greater confidence, focus, mental toughness, and composure under pressure. Learn how mental training and sports psychology can help you manage your thoughts, prepare your mind for competition, and perform more consistently as an athlete.
If you want a personalized plan to strengthen your mental game, click below to learn more about 1-on-1 mental performance coaching.
Work with me!
🧠 1-1 Mental Performance Coaching for Athletes: https://www.successstartswithin.com/mental-performance-coaching/
...
4 Tips to Help Your Child Overcome Sports Anxiety
Is your child struggling with sports anxiety, nervousness before games, fear of mistakes, or pressure to perform? In this episode, I explain how to help your child overcome sports anxiety so they can manage nerves, build confidence, and play more like themselves in competition.
If your young athlete needs personalized help with youth sports anxiety or sports performance anxiety, click the link below to learn more about 1-on-1 mental performance coaching.
Work with me!
🧠 1-1 Mental Performance Coaching for Athletes: https://www.successstartswithin.com/mental-performance-coaching/
...
How to Overcome Fear of Failure in Sports (3-Step Mental Training Plan)
Fear of failure in sports can cause athletes to hesitate, play scared, and judge their performance only by the result. In this episode, I walk you through a three-step mental training plan to understand what you’re truly afraid of, prepare yourself to handle it, redefine success around your actions, and mentally rehearse the way you want to compete.
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 con...
How to Calm Sports Performance Anxiety Before Games: 3 Steps
Sports performance anxiety can leave athletes feeling nervous, tight, and unable to play like themselves before games. Learn three practical steps to manage pregame anxiety, release physical tension, and regain control of your focus so you can compete with more confidence.
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 athl...
How to Build Confidence in Sports Without Relying on Results
Learn how to build confidence in sports and stop doubting yourself before and during games. Discover how athletes can use past success to strengthen confidence and focus on controllable goals instead of relying on results.
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...
How 1-on-1 Mental Coaching Helps Athletes Stop Playing Scared
In this episode, I explain how 1-on-1 mental coaching helps athletes stop playing scared by identifying what’s causing the fear, how it shows up in their game, and what mental skills they need to train.
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: ht...
Sports Psychology for Kids: Build Confidence & Stop Playing Scared
Learn how sports psychology for kids can help young athletes build confidence, handle pressure, stop playing scared, and recover quickly after mistakes.
In this episode, I share practical mental training exercises parents can use to help their child perform more freely and translate what they can do in practice into games.
If your athlete needs personalized support, click the link below to learn more about my one-on-one mental performance coaching program.
Work with me!
🧠 1-1 Mental Performance Coaching for Athletes: https://www.successstartswithin.com/mental-performance-coaching/
5 Signs Your Athlete is Playing With Fear of Failure
Fear of failure doesn’t always look like nerves — sometimes it looks like playing safe, shutting down after mistakes, holding back effort, or acting like they don’t care. In this episode, I break down 5 signs your athlete may be playing with fear of failure and how 1-on-1 mental performance coaching can help them compete with more confidence, freedom, and trust in themselves.
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 & anxie...
How to Stop Spiralling After Mistakes in Sports | Mental Reset Routine
Do you spiral after making mistakes in games? In this episode, I’ll teach you a simple mistake reset routine athletes can use to stop replaying the last play, refocus in the present moment, and get ready for what’s next.
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)
Why Athletes Get Nervous Even When They’re Prepared
You can train hard, prepare well, and still feel nervous before a game. In this episode, I explain why athletes get nervous even when they’re prepared and walk you through a simple mental exercise you can use to shift your focus back to what you can control.
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!
👉 M...
3 In-Game Tips to Stop Playing Scared
Playing scared during games can lead to hesitation, overthinking, and trying not to make mistakes. In this episode, I share three in-game tips athletes can use to reset their focus, handle fear of failure, and compete with more confidence and freedom.
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)
<...
How to Build a Stronger Mental Game This Off-Season | Athlete Mental Training
The off-season isn’t just a time to get stronger physically. It’s also one of the best times to improve your mental game by reviewing last season, identifying the challenges that held you back, and building a daily mental training plan that helps you prepare for next season with more confidence, focus, and control.
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!
...3 Practical Keys to Playing Freely in Sports
I break down three practical keys to helping athletes play more freely, stop overthinking, and trust their game.
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
...5 Self-Talk Tips to Increase Confidence in Sports
In this episode, I share five self-talk tips athletes can use to build confidence, stay focused, and respond better to mistakes. You’ll learn how to replace negative judgment with helpful cues and create self-talk that actually improves your performance.
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)
...
5 Daily Mental Exercises to Reduce Sports Anxiety
In this episode, you’ll learn five daily mental exercises to help reduce sports anxiety and strengthen your mindset as an athlete.
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: htt...
5 Goal-Setting Mistakes That Hurt an Athlete’s Confidence
In this episode, I explain five common goal-setting mistakes that can hurt an athlete’s confidence, including focusing only on outcomes, setting goals outside your control, constantly judging yourself, and giving up after setbacks. You’ll also learn how to set goals in a way that helps you stay focused, measure progress, and build confidence throughout the process.
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...
3 Reasons Athletes Are So Hard on Themselves (And How to Stop
In this episode, I explain three common reasons athletes are so hard on themselves:
They believe being hard on themselves motivates them.They do not want to make the same mistake again.They believe criticizing themselves proves how much they care.I also discuss how athletes can learn from mistakes and hold themselves accountable without relying on constant self-criticism.
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 pla...
Stop Trying to Avoid Mistakes During Games
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...
How to Handle Stressful Games
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...
What Does it Mean to Play Freely in Sports?
Learn 5 characteristics of playing freely in sports, and what you can do to take steps to begin playing more freely in games, and get closer to reaching your full athletic potential.
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
...5 Characteristics of Mentally Tough Athletes
Learn 5 characteristics of mentally tough athletes. Mental toughness in sports is a skill that can be developed by understanding what it takes to truly have a strong mindset.
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
Be Proactive With Your Mental Game in Sports
Learn what it means to be proactive with your mental game in sports, and what you can do to train your mind as a way to elevate your performance.
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
<...
Stop Labeling Games as Good or Bad
As athletes, it is easy to label a day as either good or bad based on how you performed. But most days are not that simple. There is usually some good and some bad mixed together. And even when things do not go the way you wanted, there is still something you can learn from the experience.
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 jus...
4 Pregame Visualizations to Try
Visualization is one of the most powerful mental training tools available to athletes. In this episode, I walk you through four simple pre-game visualization exercises that can help you feel more confident, focused, prepared, and ready to perform when competition begins.
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)
<...
Why Don't I Play Like Myself in Games?
In this episode, I break down why your performance can change depending on the situation, who's watching, the importance of the game, and the pressure you place on yourself. You'll learn why you may feel confident and free in one environment but tight, hesitant, and overthinking in another.
More importantly, you'll learn what these differences reveal about your mental game and how to start becoming a more consistent competitor.
Work with me!
🧠 1-1 Mental Performance Coaching for Athletes: https://www.successstartswithin.com/mental-performance-coaching/
👉...
Routine to Build Confidence in Sports
Learn a routine you can begin applying today to strengthen your confidence as an athlete and build more trust in yourself and your skills.
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 T...
Strategy to Be More Present During Games
Being present is a superpower in sports! Learn a two-part strategy you can use to be more present when you compete.
Cyclical breathing article: https://med.stanford.edu/news/insights/2023/02/cyclic-sighing-can-help-breathe-away-anxiety.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com
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...
Strategy to Stop Letting Distractions Hurt Your Play
Do distractions cause you to underperform? Learn the main reasons distractions affect performance and a powerful strategy you can apply to your next game to manage distractions.
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
📖...
How to Stop Overthinking When You're Playing Well
Have you ever started a game playing great, only to become aware of how well you're doing and suddenly start overthinking? Many athletes fall into the trap of thinking, "I hope I can keep playing well," which creates pressure, tension, and a desire to force good results. In this episode, I explain why this happens and share three practical strategies to help you stay present, trust your abilities, and continue performing at your best without getting in your own way.
Work with me!
🧠 1-1 Mental Performance Coaching for Athletes: http...
4 Tips to Play Without Fear
Does fear hold you back in games? Learn how to play without fear as an athlete and get yourself to the point where you can play aggressively and freely.
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
<...
Why you play differently when certain people are watching
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...
