Now, more than ever, it is crucial to offer supplementary training for today’s athletes. By training, I mean mental toughness training for peak athletic performance. Mental toughness training encompasses physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of energy. All essential sources of energy are critical to peak performance.

Athletes can no longer rely solely on physical talent to stand out. Physical skill is a fundamental component of athletic success. However, it can often become a limiting factor if not paired with mental mastery. The key to achieving peak performance lies in mastering the mind and emotions. This mental and emotional training is essential for maximizing one’s innate ability and achieving the highest levels of success.

Performance is not just physical—it requires mastery of mental and emotional energy, which becomes increasingly critical as athletes progress.

Olympic Wisdom

I was at the Olympic Training Center working with one of our national teams when I had a conversation about maximizing performance. In this setting, an athlete offered a poignant insight into the mental aspects of sports: “You know, Robert, at this stage of my career, my performance is 90% mental. My body knows what to do. It is about getting in the right place mentally and emotionally so I can achieve peak performance.” This brilliant quote came from two-time Olympian and silver and bronze medalist Jonathan Horton.

His words resonate with athletes at every level, from amateurs to Olympians. As athletes advance, mental fortitude becomes a more significant part of their journey. Whether facing the pressures of a school championship or the world stage, the mental game is equally crucial. Understanding how mental toughness can elevate performance invites all athletes to explore their own potential through this elite lens.

Unique Sources of Stress

Today’s athletes face stressors that can exacerbate stress and anxiety, create distractions, and deplete the mental and emotional energy essential for peak athletic performance.

Sources of stress can include social media addiction, obsession with cell phones, NIL agreements, the transfer portal, and limited scholarships for high school athletes. Others face burnout, perfectionistic tendencies, procrastination, and poor coping and social skills.

These stressors drain the mental and emotional energy needed to maximize performance and achieve peak potential.

Amp Up the Stress

Transfer Portal Stress:

I have been working with a college athlete who won their starting position and had a remarkable season last year. It was a battle. The experience of competing for that position helped this athlete develop focus, determination, resilience, will, grit, trust, and faith in their abilities.

In the off-season, an athlete who played their position transferred in, and they had to fight for that same position all over again. It was exhausting to have to gear up and compete all over again after having won the position before.

Coaching Changes:

Another athlete had a wonderful relationship with their coach. They trusted this coach, and when competing, had complete faith in their coach’s abilities. It was the kind of relationship athletes dream of.

At the end of the season, the coach accepted a new position at a larger school with higher pay. This athlete was crushed.

The new coach who came in had a different coaching style. It was harsh and, in some instances, brutal. Their coaching style was not a good match for this athlete’s specific learning style.

The stress of losing their dream coach and having to adapt to the new coach’s harsh, ineffective style created distractions. It became a serious drain on the athlete’s critical mental and emotional energy.

Burnout:

I have worked with athletes who are burned out from the school, training, and homework cycle. Others stay up too late on their cell phones and end up starting homework too late. Their sleep cycle is way off, and they are seriously sleep-deprived.

I see athletes who teammates have bullied, have overbearing parents, find themselves in toxic relationships, have mentally ill roommates, and abusive coaches.

Sports Injuries:

My area of specialization is helping athletes work through the psychological, mental, and emotional impact of serious sports-related injuries like ACLs, broken legs and ankles, bad collisions, pole breaks, dangerous falls, and freak accidents.

In some instances, these injuries are traumatic for the athlete. The injury itself has seriously impacted them. They must also cope with a lengthy recovery, disconnection from their team, and the loss of their identity. Many have a severe fear of re-injury.

These injuries, distractions, stressors, and toxic relationships can create incredible levels of stress and pressure on today’s athletes. The mental and emotional drain can be significant.

Mental Health Issues:

In my practice, we frequently see athletes with mental health issues, sleep disturbances, and perfectionistic athletes who are terrified of making mistakes.

We see profound changes in their personalities. Some very confident and outgoing athletes become quiet and withdrawn. Others become angry and hyper-reactive to things that set them off during practice and competition.

The fields of sports psychology, mental training, and peak performance training require more from providers than just breathing, visualization, and positive affirmations. That is the old school approach to peak performance.

Unique Challenges Require Unique Support

Today’s athletes require providers who can offer a wide range of support services. They need to teach life skills, help develop emotional intelligence, instill resilience, manage stress, foster a balanced life, teach them to set firm interpersonal boundaries, and empower them to show up authentically.

Many of today’s athletes require the services of someone skilled in mental training approaches and licensed as a mental health provider.

Anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues require someone trained to help in these areas.
Working through the trauma of a serious injury like an ACL requires someone trained and experienced in working with the brain, body, and nervous system to help process the horrific images and memories associated with the injury.

Mental training coaches and “mentors” often lack the necessary training, credentials, and expertise to effectively support many athletes in navigating the stressors and challenges they face as both students and athletes.

To help today’s athletes reach their full athletic potential, they need access to resources that enable them to learn mental training skills and concepts. They also require mentoring in protocols, strategies, and techniques to enhance their overall mental health and wellness.