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.