Sports Psychology Coaching

Eli Straw
  • 4.9 (45)
  • Sports
  • Updated Weekly

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 competitionsHosted 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.

  1. 4d ago ·  Video

    How to Stop Overthinking During Games

    Overthinking during games can cause athletes to hesitate, second-guess decisions, question their mechanics, and struggle to perform as well as they do in practice. In this episode, I explain how to stop overthinking during games, trust your skills, and compete with more confidence and freedom. 👉 Want help with your mental game? Learn more about my 1-on-1 Mental Performance Coaching: https://www.successstartswithin.com/mental-performance-coaching/ In this episode, you'll learn what overthinking looks like in sports, why athletes overthink during games, and how fear of mistakes, perfectionism, outcome-focused thinking, and a lack of trust can lead to hesitation, tension, and underperforming. I'll also explain the difference between a training mindset and a performing mindset, plus three practical strategies to stop overthinking: simplify your thoughts, use count breathing to calm your mind, and develop a simple in-game reset routine. You'll also learn how to trust yourself, commit to your decisions, and let your natural skills take over during competition. Not quite ready for 1-1 coaching? Learn more about my two self-paced online courses. 👉 The Confident Competitor Academy: https://www.successstartswithin.com/confident-competitor-academy/ 👉 The Mentally Tough Kid: https://www.successstartswithin.com/the-mentally-tough-kid/ CHAPTERS 0:00 Intro 1:28 What Overthinking Looks Like in Sports 6:41 Why Athletes Overthink During Games 12:58 How Overthinking Causes You to Underperform 16:32 Stop Overthinking During Games 27:32 One-on-One Mental Performance Coaching 📖 Read my complete guide to How to Stop Overthinking During Games: https://www.successstartswithin.com/sports-psychology-articles/self-talk-for-sports/how-to-stop-overthinking-during-games/ 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.

  2. Oct 19 ·  Video

    How to Overcome Perfectionism in Sports

    Perfectionism in sports can make athletes feel like every mistake is a failure, pressure themselves to perform perfectly, and lose confidence and enjoyment in their sport. In this episode, I explain how to overcome perfectionism while keeping your ambition, high standards, and desire to improve. 👉 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 perfectionism, 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 what perfectionism looks like in sports, how to recognize it, and why hard work and ambition can sometimes turn into pressure to be perfect. I’ll also explain how perfectionism can create tension and hesitation, make one mistake affect the rest of your game, and take away confidence and joy. Then I’ll walk you through ways to let go of perfectionism without lowering your standards: focus on improvement instead of perfect results, set controllable objectives, learn to accept mistakes, and evaluate your performances more objectively. Not quite ready for 1-on-1 coaching? Learn more about my two self-paced online courses: 👉 The Confident Competitor Academy: https://www.successstartswithin.com/confident-competitor-academy/ 👉 The Mentally Tough Kid: https://www.successstartswithin.com/the-mentally-tough-kid/ CHAPTERS 0:00 Intro 0:46 What Is Perfectionism in Sports? 2:53 Signs You’re a Perfectionist Athlete 7:11 Why Do Athletes Become Perfectionists? 11:40 How Perfectionism Hurts Athletic Performance 16:15 Why One Mistake Can Ruin the Rest of Your Game 18:50 How to Overcome Perfectionism in Sports 37:11 Mental Performance Coaching for Perfectionist Athletes 📖 Read my complete guide to overcoming perfectionism in sports: https://www.successstartswithin.com/sports-psychology-articles/perfectionism-in-sports/overcome-perfectionism-in-sports/ 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.

  3. Oct 14 ·  Video

    How to Bounce Back From Mistakes in Sports

    Mistakes in sports are inevitable, but how you respond to them can determine how well you perform for the rest of the game. In this episode, I explain how to bounce back from mistakes, regain your focus after a bad play, and keep one mistake from turning into several. 👉 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 it's so difficult to move on from mistakes, how negative self-talk and frustration create a snowball effect, and why dwelling on mistakes or trying too hard to make up for them can hurt your performance. I'll also walk you through the three-step mental reset I teach athletes—Release, Refocus, and Recommit—to help you let go of the previous play, return your attention to the present moment, and fully commit to what's next. We'll also discuss how to learn from mistakes without overthinking them and build a stronger response that helps you bounce back quickly during competition. Not quite ready for 1-1 coaching? Learn more about my two self-paced online courses. 👉 The Confident Competitor Academy: https://www.successstartswithin.com/confident-competitor-academy/ 👉 The Mentally Tough Kid: https://www.successstartswithin.com/the-mentally-tough-kid/ CHAPTERS: 0:00 Intro 1:39 Why one mistake snowballs into more mistakes 3:22 How your response to mistakes affects your performance 5:30 Why it's so hard to let go of mistakes 12:50 3-Step mental reset routine 20:15 How to learn from mistakes without dwelling on them 26:02 1-1 Mental performance coaching 📖 Read my complete guide to How to Bounce Back From Mistakes During Games: https://www.successstartswithin.com/sports-psychology-articles/athlete-mental-training/how-to-stay-composed-after-mistakes-in-sports/ 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.

  4. Oct 12 ·  Video

    Why You Play Better in Practice Than Games (And How to Fix It)

    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/ 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.

  5. Oct 9 ·  Video

    How to Stop Negative Self-Talk in Sports

    Negative self-talk in sports can undermine athletes' confidence, lead to overthinking, fear mistakes, and make it hard to perform at their best during games. In this episode, I explain how self-talk affects athletic performance, how to overcome negative self-talk, and how to develop more positive, productive thinking to compete with greater confidence. 👉 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 what self-talk is in sports, the difference between direct and indirect self-talk, how automatic thoughts develop, and how your thinking influences your confidence, focus, emotions, and performance through the thought-feeling-action cycle. I'll also show you how to practice positive self-talk as an athlete, change negative thinking in the moment, and build a daily self-talk routine to boost confidence and improve your natural thought patterns. We'll cover self-talk before, during, and after competition, including instructional self-talk, resetting after mistakes, and managing negative thoughts during games. I'll also explain common self-talk mistakes athletes should avoid, such as forcing positive thinking, using statements they don't believe, and overthinking during competition. Not quite ready for 1-1 coaching? Learn more about my two self-paced online courses. 👉 The Confident Competitor Academy: https://www.successstartswithin.com/confident-competitor-academy/ 👉 The Mentally Tough Kid: https://www.successstartswithin.com/the-mentally-tough-kid/ CHAPTERS 0:00 Intro 1:44 What Is Self-Talk in Sports? 3:32 Automatic vs Deliberate Self-Talk 5:15 How Self-Talk Affects Athletic Performance 9:32 Understanding Negative Self-Talk in Athletes 13:12 Changing Negative Thinking During Games 22:50 Reframing Thinking 26:18 Using Self-Talk Before, During, and After Competition 28:48 Common Self-Talk Mistakes Athletes Should Avoid 32:08 One-On-One Mental Coaching to Improve Your Self-Talk 📖 Read my complete guide to Self-Talk in Sports: https://www.successstartswithin.com/sports-psychology-articles/self-talk-for-sports/how-to-practice-positive-self-talk-as-an-athlete/ 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.

  6. Sep 24 ·  Video

    How to Play Your Best Under Pressure in Sports

    Pressure in sports can cause athletes to overthink, force outcomes, play scared, and struggle to perform freely when the moment matters most. In this episode, I explain how to perform under pressure in sports, why some athletes choke, and how to play your best in big moments. 👉 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 what pressure in sports is, why some athletes choke under pressure, and how pressure can actually improve your performance when you respond the right way. I'll also explain the key to performing your best under pressure, including how to keep things simple, focus on the process, stick to your routines, embrace pressure-filled moments, and use your breathing to stay composed. I’ll also cover how to handle the physical feelings of pressure and ways you can train for pressure before you need to perform under it. Not quite ready for 1-1 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/ CHAPTERS 0:00 Intro 3:11 What is Pressure in Sports? 6:15 Why Some Athletes Choke Under Pressure 11:10 How Pressure Can Improve Performance 14:04 The Key to Performing Under Pressure 28:52 How to Handle the Physical Feelings of Pressure 30:31 How to Train for Pressure 34:42 One-On-One Mental Coaching 📖 Read my complete guide to Performing Under Pressure: https://www.successstartswithin.com/sports-psychology-articles/focus-training-for-sports/how-to-perform-your-best-in-pressure-situations-during-games/ 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.

  7. Sep 22 ·  Video

    How to Build Mental Toughness in Sports

    Mental toughness in sports is the ability to stay confident, focused, composed, and in control when pressure, mistakes, frustration, and adversity challenge your mindset. In this episode, I explain how to build mental toughness in sports and develop the mental skills you need to compete with a stronger, more resilient mindset. 👉 Want help with your mental game? Learn more about my 1-on-1 Mental Performance Coaching: https://www.successstartswithin.com/mental-performance-coaching/ Confidence episode Fear of failure episode I work one-on-one with athletes to help them build confidence, improve focus, respond better to mistakes, manage pressure, overcome performance anxiety and fear of failure, and develop greater control over their mindset during competition. In this episode, you'll learn what mental toughness really means, what mental toughness looks like during competition, and the mental skills that help athletes stay mentally strong when games become difficult. I'll break down the importance of controlling your thinking, building confidence and trust, staying focused on the present moment, managing emotions, and responding productively to mistakes and adversity. I'll also walk you through practical mental toughness exercises you can use, including reframing negative thoughts, practicing mindfulness, evaluating performances productively, using performance objectives, and mental rehearsal. Finally, I'll explain how to use these skills during games so you can recognize when your mentality starts to change, reset more quickly, and return to the mindset you want to compete with. Not quite ready for 1-1 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 Mental Toughness in Sports: https://www.successstartswithin.com/sports-psychology-articles/athlete-mental-toughness/build-mental-toughness-in-sports/ Listen to the Podcast If you want more in-depth mental training episodes like this: 🎧 Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/1DkRcMhKcNDcw4SaiKyMaO?si=0b51f098625f4949 Chapters: 0:00 Intro 1:16 What is mental toughness in sports 3:50 What mental toughness looks like during competition 10:53 The mental skills that make a mentally tough athlete 21:16 Mental training tools to build mental toughness 28:00 Be more mentally tough during games 32:30 1-1 mental coaching to build mental toughness in sports 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.

  8. Sep 18

    Sports Performance Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Play Freely

    Sports performance anxiety can cause athletes to overthink, tense up, fear mistakes, and struggle to perform as freely in games as they do in practice. In this episode, I explain how to overcome sports performance anxiety, manage nerves, and compete with more confidence and freedom. 👉 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 what sports performance anxiety is, why it happens, the physical and mental signs to look for, and how your thoughts, physical reactions, and behaviors can create an anxiety cycle. I'll also walk you through the ABC strategy I use with athletes—Accept, Breathe, and Change Your Thinking—along with strategies for managing anxiety before games, building a stronger pregame routine, resetting during competition, responding to mistakes, and performing with more confidence under pressure. Not quite ready for 1-1 coaching? Learn more about my 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 Sports Performance Anxiety: https://www.successstartswithin.com/sports-psychology-articles/sports-performance-anxiety/what-is-sports-performance-anxiety/ 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.

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4.9
out of 5
45 Ratings

About

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 competitionsHosted 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.

Information

  • Creator
    Eli Straw
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    585
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Sports Psychology Coaching
  • Show Website
    Sports Psychology Coaching

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