The Olympics: A Celebration of Mindset and Mental Strength

Let’s talk about the Olympics! Watching the Games has been an incredible experience for me. From cheering on Simone Biles while making breakfast for my kids to figuring out the rules of 7-on-7 rugby over lunch, and watching records being broken before bed – it has all been so inspiring. But the highlight for me has been the emphasis on mindset and the power of the mental game. This is something I’ve been preaching for YEARS. I lived through it myself, and to witness the best athletes in the world talking about it is incredibly validating.

Growing up, strength and conditioning training was just emerging as something beneficial for younger athletes. We didn’t have the continuous warmups before practices or games like today, and gym workouts were unheard of. I started training with my dad in the gym around 13-14 to make me stronger for the full-contact hockey league I played in with the boys and to protect my knees (thanks, Dad!). At that time, no one else I knew was doing anything similar. It wasn’t until I committed to play at Providence that I received a summer workout program, which included a basic weight training routine. Just enough to prepare us for strength testing in the Fall. The workouts I did with my dad were much more intense. With each year at Providence, under the addition of a more advanced strength coach, our weight training became more comprehensive.

Now, not engaging in some form of weight training is almost unheard of. Kids start younger and younger, which is a whole other conversation... But at some point, if you’re not utilizing a strength training program, often with a coach, you risk falling behind.

Why am I talking about this? Because I believe we are at a similar turning point with MENTAL SKILLS/MINDSET training. USA Hockey hiring Mental Skills Coaches such as myself to come work with every age group at their National Player Development camps is proof of that; and the Olympics have showcased how every athlete values training their mind as much, if not more, than their body. It’s that important. As we saw with Simone Biles in Tokyo, mental health can impact even the most physically talented athletes. After that Olympics, she took two years off to focus on her mental health and gradually returned to the gym only when she felt mentally ready. Her journey highlights the importance of investing in mental training (If you haven’t watched her documentary on Netflix yet, I highly recommend it!)

Many people think that mental skills coaches are only for elite athletes, but that’s not true. The earlier you can start to train your brain, the stronger and more mentally sound and resilient you will be, getting you to that next level (whether that is in sport or other areas of life), faster. Take Tiger Woods, for example. His dad started training his brain at age seven, helping him stay focused despite distractions.

Preparing our youth with the tools to handle tough losses, criticism from coaches, failures, nervousness, and negative self-talk (whether after making a mistake or getting into a fight with their best friend), is crucial. We are approaching a time when having a Mindset or Mental Skills Coach will be as essential as having a strength coach – for all ages. And wouldn’t it be great to be ahead of the curve?

We’re not talking about laying on a couch with tissues, discussing our childhoods (although this training can preemptively alleviate the need for therapy.. And all the extra $$$ that goes with that). We’re talking about adding a secret weapon to an athlete’s arsenal. A superpower. Just like weight training, it makes you stronger, faster, more confident, and able to handle whatever comes your way. It makes you unstoppable – in sports and life.

If this resonates with you and you’re interested in adding a Mental Skills Coach to your team of coaches, I encourage you to reach out. I’m offering an End of Summer/Back to Season Special until the end of August. After that, Peak Performance Training will be making significant changes (more on that soon).