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
551 episodes
What Is Sports Psychology? How Mental Training Helps Athletes
What is sports psychology, and how can it help athletes perform better? In this episode, I explain how thoughts and emotions affect sports performance, how sports psychology becomes practical mental training, and how athletes can strengthen the...
10 Ways to Improve Your Mental Game in Sports
These 10 ways to improve your mental game in sports will help you develop greater confidence, focus, mental toughness, and composure under pressure. Learn how mental training and sports psychology can help you manage your thoughts, prepare your...
4 Tips to Help Your Child Overcome Sports Anxiety
Is your child struggling with sports anxiety, nervousness before games, fear of mistakes, or pressure to perform? In this episode, I explain how to help your child overcome sports anxiety so they can manage nerves, build confidence, and play mo...
How to Overcome Fear of Failure in Sports (3-Step Mental Training Plan)
Fear of failure in sports can cause athletes to hesitate, play scared, and judge their performance only by the result. In this episode, I walk you through a three-step mental training plan to understand what you’re truly afraid of, prepare your...
How to Calm Sports Performance Anxiety Before Games: 3 Steps
Sports performance anxiety can leave athletes feeling nervous, tight, and unable to play like themselves before games. Learn three practical steps to manage pregame anxiety, release physical tension, and regain control of your focus so you can ...
How to Build Confidence in Sports Without Relying on Results
Learn how to build confidence in sports and stop doubting yourself before and during games. Discover how athletes can use past success to strengthen confidence and focus on controllable goals instead of relying on results.
How 1-on-1 Mental Coaching Helps Athletes Stop Playing Scared
In this episode, I explain how 1-on-1 mental coaching helps athletes stop playing scared by identifying what’s causing the fear, how it shows up in their game, and what mental skills they need to train.
Sports Psychology for Kids: Build Confidence & Stop Playing Scared
Learn how sports psychology for kids can help young athletes build confidence, handle pressure, stop playing scared, and recover quickly after mistakes.In this episode, I share practical mental training exercises parents can use to help...
5 Signs Your Athlete is Playing With Fear of Failure
Fear of failure doesn’t always look like nerves — sometimes it looks like playing safe, shutting down after mistakes, holding back effort, or acting like they don’t care. In this episode, I break down 5 signs your athlete may be playing with fe...
How to Stop Spiralling After Mistakes in Sports | Mental Reset Routine
Do you spiral after making mistakes in games? In this episode, I’ll teach you a simple mistake reset routine athletes can use to stop replaying the last play, refocus in the present moment, and get ready for what’s next.
Why Athletes Get Nervous Even When They’re Prepared
You can train hard, prepare well, and still feel nervous before a game. In this episode, I explain why athletes get nervous even when they’re prepared and walk you through a simple mental exercise you can use to shift your focus back to what yo...
3 In-Game Tips to Stop Playing Scared
Playing scared during games can lead to hesitation, overthinking, and trying not to make mistakes. In this episode, I share three in-game tips athletes can use to reset their focus, handle fear of failure, and compete with more confidence and f...
How to Build a Stronger Mental Game This Off-Season | Athlete Mental Training
The off-season isn’t just a time to get stronger physically. It’s also one of the best times to improve your mental game by reviewing last season, identifying the challenges that held you back, and building a daily mental training plan that hel...
3 Practical Keys to Playing Freely in Sports
I break down three practical keys to helping athletes play more freely, stop overthinking, and trust their game.
5 Self-Talk Tips to Increase Confidence in Sports
In this episode, I share five self-talk tips athletes can use to build confidence, stay focused, and respond better to mistakes. You’ll learn how to replace negative judgment with helpful cues and create self-talk that actually improves your pe...
5 Daily Mental Exercises to Reduce Sports Anxiety
In this episode, you’ll learn five daily mental exercises to help reduce sports anxiety and strengthen your mindset as an athlete.
5 Goal-Setting Mistakes That Hurt an Athlete’s Confidence
In this episode, I explain five common goal-setting mistakes that can hurt an athlete’s confidence, including focusing only on outcomes, setting goals outside your control, constantly judging yourself, and giving up after setbacks. You’ll also ...
3 Reasons Athletes Are So Hard on Themselves (And How to Stop
In this episode, I explain three common reasons athletes are so hard on themselves:They believe being hard on themselves motivates them.They do not want to make the same mistake again.They believe criticizing thems...
What Does it Mean to Play Freely in Sports?
Learn 5 characteristics of playing freely in sports, and what you can do to take steps to begin playing more freely in games, and get closer to reaching your full athletic potential.
5 Characteristics of Mentally Tough Athletes
Learn 5 characteristics of mentally tough athletes. Mental toughness in sports is a skill that can be developed by understanding what it takes to truly have a strong mindset.
Be Proactive With Your Mental Game in Sports
Learn what it means to be proactive with your mental game in sports, and what you can do to train your mind as a way to elevate your performance.