If You do Better in Practice Than Competition.
Mental Performance Coaching Closes that Gap.
Sports psychology for athletes is the structured training of mental skills — confidence, focus, composure under pressure — that determine competitive performance. Athletes who train their mental game with a certified mental performance coach consistently close the gap between practice performance and competition results.
What is sports psychology for athletes?
Sports psychology coaching is teaching athletes mental skills to improve athletic performance. For athletes, it addresses mental barriers such as anxiety, fear of failure, loss of focus, and perfectionism that prevent them from competing at the level they train. A mental performance coach teaches skills including pre-competition routines, self-talk management, visualization, mistake management and confidence-building under pressure.
The Gap Between Practice and Competition
Most athletes train their physical skills for 10–20 hours per week. Few train their mental skills at all. The result: solid performance in practice, inconsistent performance when it counts.
Athletes who work with Peak Performance Sports coaches report:
- Competing with the same confidence they have in practice
- Recovering faster from mistakes during competition
- Managing pre-competition anxiety so it fuels performance instead of hurting it
- Building the mental stamina to perform in high-pressure situations
Patrick J. Cohn, Ph.D., founder of Peak Performance Sports, has coached athletes for over 40 years. He developed his sports psychology training system (MGCP) used by Peak Performance Sports’ mental performance coaches across golf, baseball, tennis, gymnastics, hockey, and more than 20 other sports.
Three Ways to Train Your Mental Game
What Athletes Say About Mental Performance Coaching
Athletes from NASCAR, the PGA Tour, the NHL, the NFL, Olympic competition, and competitive youth and college sports have worked with Peak Performance Sports coaches to improve their mental game.
No more dear in the headlights feeling
“What a week I had. I was able to perform with a confidence that allowed my style to shine through–no more entering the arena with that “deer in the headlights” look or feeling. I stopped evaluating myself while I was performing, and I actually left the arena after my patterns feeling like I had experienced a lot of fun. Thank you so much.”*
~Julia Dreyer, National Champion Equestrian
“Mental Coaching Has Helped me Immensely”
“Mental coaching has helped me immensely. It has taught me what to focus on in and out of the race car… How to stay calm and focused have been the key skills that I have learned, which are important to becoming a better and more confident race car driver.”*
~AJ Allmendinger, NASCAR Driver
“He Finally Put It All Together”
“After your session, Mason had a game. He had the best game so far! He hustled, shot, no goals but two assists but he was cool with it because his focus was on shooting and not scoring (finally), defended well with his hands – finally put it all together. It was fun to watch and you could tell he felt really good about it.”*
~Kelly, Lacrosse mom
“I Had the Best Nationals I Have Ever Had.”
“Using your great instruction on the mental game, I had the best nationals I have ever had. And even more important, I got through the five days relaxed and had fun – a new concept in my life! The bottom line – I got five firsts and one second! Thank! You are just what I needed.”*
~Dennis O’Brien, swimmer
“We Had a Great Season and Finished 2nd in the State”
“We had a great season. We finished second in the State Tournament. We scored 163 points, which is 11 more than we scored the year we won the state tournament. We had three individual state champs. We really improved our mental preparation in the post season. The kids bought in and really worked at it. We will definitely need you again next year.”*
~Coach Jim Bird, Head Coach Osceola High School
“He’s Soaring with Confidence Right Now”
“I want to thank you for the great work you are doing with Ty. He seems to be soaring with confidence right now. We are flying out to see him pitch next weekend. He threw well Friday night and is drawing a lot of interest from several Division I schools. I’ll let you know how he looks.”*
~Randy Sullivan, Baseball Parent
Helpful Pages:
- Read full student testimonials
- Listen to coaching success stories
- See athletes and clients
Sports Psychology for Athletes FAQ
How does mental performance coaching differ from sports psychology therapy?
Mental performance coaching focuses on improving athletic performance through skill-building — not on treating mental health conditions. A mental performance coach works with athletes on focus, confidence, composure under pressure, and pre-competition preparation. It is not therapy.
How long does mental skills coaching take to show results?
Most athletes notice changes within 4–8 weeks of consistent practice. One-on-one coaching produces faster results because the program targets your specific mental game challenges from the start.
Can I do mental performance coaching remotely?
Yes. Peak Performance Sports coaches work with athletes worldwide via phone, Zoom, and FaceTime. You do not need to be in Orlando, Florida, to access one-on-one coaching.
What sports does mental performance coaching apply to?
Mental skills training applies to every competitive sport. Peak Performance Sports coaches work with athletes in golf, baseball, softball, tennis, gymnastics, figure skating, hockey, soccer, volleyball, equestrian sports, triathlon, motocross, auto racing, and more.
What is the difference between mental toughness and mental performance coaching?
Mental toughness is an outcome — the ability to perform consistently under pressure. Mental performance coaching is the process of developing that toughness through structured skill practice: visualization, routines, self-talk, focus management, and confidence-building.
How much does sports psychology coaching cost?
One-on-one mental performance coaching at Peak Performance Sports starts at $700 per month. Self-paced audio and workbook programs start at $79.
About Peak Performance Sports
Peak Performance Sports was founded in 1996 by Patrick J. Cohn, Ph.D., a sports psychology expert with more than 40 years of experience coaching competitive and elite athletes. The Peak Performance coaching team includes certified mental performance coaches with graduate degrees in sport psychology and kinesiology.
Peaksports Mental Performance Coaches
Patrick J. Cohn, Ph.D. | Jaclyn Ellis, M.S. | Carolyne Lawley, M.S. | Lane Schwarz, M.S.
Ready to Close the Gap?
Book a free session with a certified mental performance coach. There’s no commitment. Meet with a coach about your mental game for any sport, and what you want to improve.
Or call 888-742-7225
Windermere, Florida 34786 | 407-909-1700 | Available worldwide via Zoom or Video Conference
Disclaimer
*Testimonials found on this site are examples of what we have done for other clients, and what some of our clients have said about us. However, we cannot guarantee the results in any case. Your results may vary and every situation is different. No compensation was provided for these testimonials.
Last Updated on June 3, 2026