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LGR 288: Building Resilience and Performing Under Pressure with Dr. Kate Lund
Lax Goalie Rat Podcast
Lax Goalie Rat Podcast
LGR 288: Building Resilience and Performing Under Pressure with Dr. Kate Lund
Jan 12, 2026
Coach Damon Wilson
Dr. Kate Lund, psychologist, best-selling author, and host of The Optimized Mind podcast, shares powerful strategies for building mental resilience in lacrosse goalies and young athletes.
In this conversation, we explore:
- The Relaxation Response Technique: A simple 5-minute daily practice using breathing and a calming word/phrase to modulate stress and build emotional control
- Pre-Game Routines & Visualization: How to create a solid foundation of confidence before stepping on the field
- Managing Emotions on the Sidelines: Why parent stress transfers to players and what to do about it
- The "Even Keel" Mindset: How to celebrate great saves without losing focus for the next shot
- Processing Failure: The importance of sitting with disappointment rather than sweeping it under the rug
- The Daily Wins Exercise: Writing down 3-5 things that went well each day to counteract negative thought patterns
- The Car Ride Home: How parents can support their goalie after tough games
Dr. Lund also discusses her new book, Step Away: The Keys to Resilient Parenting, and shares insights from her personal journey with resilience, starting from childhood challenges with hydrocephalus to becoming a competitive tennis player.
Connect with Dr. Kate Lund:
- Website: katelundspeaks.com
- Instagram: @dr_kate_lund
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kate-lund