What is a mental coach’s role?
A mental coach supports athletes by refining their mental approach to enhance performance. They refine practice efficiency and bridge the gap between practice and competition. They may foster team cohesion, thereby elevating team performance, develop practical team communication skills, teach essential mental skills such as confidence, focus, composure, and routines, and aid athletes in regaining confidence and performance after injury. They may collaborate with parents of young athletes to ensure holistic support, and they assist sports coaches in integrating mental training into their coaching strategies.
What is not a mental coach’s role?
A mental coach does not diagnose or treat psychopathological conditions. They do not address substance abuse issues such as drug or alcohol addiction. A mental coach will not diagnose or treat eating disorders, handle suicidal tendencies, address family or marital problems, or engage in crisis intervention.
Why might you need mental coaching?
You may require the services of a mental coach for several reasons. Here are a few reasons. You may need mental coaching if you lack clear goals, perform better in practice than in competition, worry excessively about disappointing others, feel overly self-conscious about others’ perceptions, or your performance expectations are unrealistically high.
You may need a mental coach if pre-game anxiety persists beyond the initial minutes of competition, if you tie your self-worth to sports performance, or if you struggle to maintain focus.
