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 competition
• Letting go of overthinking and perfectionism
• Visualization, mindfulness, and present-moment performance
• How to perform consistently in games, races, and competitions
Hosted by mental performance coach Eli Straw, this podcast provides simple, practical mental game coaching used with athletes from youth to elite levels. Learn how to stop playing scared, compete with freedom, and unlock your true performance.
If you’re an athlete, parent, or coach looking for sports psychology tips, mental toughness training, and performance mindset strategies, this podcast will help you build the mental skills needed to perform at your best when it matters most.
*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 psychologist or psychiatrist.
Episodes
477 episodes
Why Athletes Hesitate During Games
In this episode, I discuss the pattern that occurs when athletes hesitate. You'll learn what truly drives hesitation during competition, and a mindset shift you can make to stop hesitating during games.
•
12:05
3 Reasons Athletes are Inconsistent During Games
In this episode I go over three main reasons athletes are inconsistent during games. And three tips you can use to play better during games.
•
12:19
What to Say to Your Athlete After a Bad Game (Avoid This Mistake)
In this episode, I explain what to say to your athlete after a bad game and how the wrong conversation can actually hurt their confidence moving forward. I break down how criticism increases fear and pressure, why athletes struggle to move on f...
•
10:26
Why Trying too Hard Hurts Athletic Performance
In this episode, I explain why trying too hard during games can actually hurt your performance. I break down how pressure leads to forcing outcomes, how that creates tension and slows reaction time, and the mindset shift you need to make to pla...
•
9:02
3 Reasons Athletes Play Great in Practice But Struggle in Games
In this episode, I explain why athletes often play great in practice but struggle in games. I break down the three biggest mental reasons this happens—fear of making mistakes, overthinking with a practice mindset, and trying to over-control per...
•
11:17
Why One Mistake Leads to More Mistakes in Sports
In this episode, I explain why one mistake during a game often leads to many more mistakes. I break down the mental reaction that causes this snowball effect and share a simple reset technique athletes can use to stop mistakes from spiraling an...
•
9:31
Why Athletes Lose Confidence After One Mistake
In this episode, I explain why athletes lose confidence after one mistake and why a single error can cause negative thinking, fear, and hesitation during competition. I also share a simple mental reset strategy athletes can use to regain focus ...
•
7:54
Mental Coaching for Youth Athletes (Sports Psychology for Kids Explained)
In this episode, I explain why mental coaching and sports psychology are so important for youth athletes. I cover the most common mental game challenges young athletes face, including fear of failure, performance anxiety, perfectionism, and neg...
•
13:36
Fear of Failure in Sports: Why Athletes Play Scared (And How to Overcome It)
Fear of failure in sports causes many athletes to hesitate, play cautiously, and hold themselves back during competition. This fear is rarely about the mistake itself, but about the perceived consequences such as embarrassment, criticism, getti...
•
17:25
Practicing Poorly Before a Game? Here’s How Athletes Should Handle It Mentally
What should you do if you have a big game, competition, or tryout coming up—but your recent practices haven’t gone well?This is something I see athletes struggle with all the time. When practices go poorly leading up to a performance, co...
•
11:23
Control the Controllables in Sports | Why Athletes Must Focus on What They Can Control
Athletes often struggle with anxiety and overthinking because they focus on results, playing time, or other things outside their control. In this episode, I explain why focusing on controllable actions like preparation, response to mistakes, an...
•
8:47
How to Build Game-Day Confidence
Game-day confidence isn’t about hyping yourself up. It isn’t about convincing yourself you’re the best player on the field.It’s about trust.In this episode, I break down why confidence often disappears during competition — even wh...
•
14:20
How to Know If You (or Your Athlete) Need a Mental Performance Coach — or Just More Practice
If you (or your athlete) are underperforming during games, you might be asking:Do we need more practice? Or is this a mental game issue?In this episode, I break down how to tell the difference between a physical skill problem and ...
•
10:08
How to Reset Mentally Between Plays or Points (Simple Routine for Athletes)
How do athletes reset mentally between plays or points?In this episode, mental performance coach Eli Straw explains a simple and effective mental reset routine athletes can use between every play, point, or moment in competiti...
•
14:07
What Athletes Should Do When Their Confidence Depends on Stats and Results
Many athletes tie their self-confidence directly to stats, wins, and recent performances. When they play well, they feel confident. When they struggle, their confidence drops — and that drop in confidence makes it even harder to turn things aro...
•
12:31
How Athletes Build Positive Self-Talk Habits Before and During Competition
What’s the best way for athletes to develop positive self-talk habits before and during games? In this episode, mental performance coach Eli Straw explains how your thoughts shape your mindset, emotions, and performance, and how to train your t...
•
10:00
How to Build a Strong Pre-Performance Routine (Mental Training for Athletes)
What is the best way to build a strong, repeatable pre-performance routine as an athlete?In this episode, mental performance coach Eli Straw explains how to create a pre-game mental routine that helps you feel confident, focused, presen...
•
14:53
What’s the Best Approach for Athletes Confident in Practice but Nervous in Games?
Why are you confident in practice but nervous in games?Many athletes play freely and confidently during training — but once competition starts, they feel anxious, tight, and afraid of making mistakes. In this episode, I explain why this ...
•
11:08
What’s the Best Way to Start Mental Training as an Athlete?
What’s the best way for an athlete to start mental training if they’ve never worked with a sports psychologist or mental performance coach before?The best way to begin mental training is to treat mental skills like physical skills and bu...
•
11:59
How to Use Visualization Before a Game (4 Powerful Mental Training Techniques for Athletes)
Visualization is one of the most powerful mental training tools athletes can use before competition—but only when used the right way. In this episode, mental performance coach Eli Straw explains how to use visualization correctly to build confi...
•
11:00
Fear of Failure in Sports: Why Working Through Fear Matters More Than Confidence
Are you struggling with fear of failure in sports, performance anxiety, or playing scared in competition? Many athletes believe they lack confidence, but the real problem is often fear of mistakes, fear of embarrassment, and fear of l...
•
14:08