Kids and Teens Mental Performance Coaching.
Give Them the Confidence to Excel in Sports.
You’ve invested in coaching, training, and travel teams. But if your young athlete struggles with confidence, frustration, or anxiety in competition, the missing piece is their mental game. At Peak Performance Sports, certified mental performance coaches work one-on-one with young athletes (ages 12+) via Zoom and parents are part of the process from the start.
What is Mental Performance Coaching for Young Athletes?
Mental performance coaching for young athletes is one-on-one virtual training that helps kids and teens overcome the mental barriers — such as fear of failure, perfectionism, low confidence, frustration after mistakes, and performance anxiety — that prevent them from competing the way they practice.
At Peak Performance Sports, certified mental performance coaches work with young athletes ages 12 and up using the Athlete’s Mental Edge Framework and the Young Athlete’s Mental Aptitude Assessment (YAMAP) to build a personalized mental game plan. Parents learn what to say and do to reinforce confidence at home. Programs are available for youth, travel ball, club, middle school, and high school athletes in all sports worldwide.
Parents are part of the coaching · Ages 12+ · All sports · Via Zoom
Call us today: 407-909-1700
Does This Sound Like Your Young Athlete?
Your child has the physical skills and the training. But something changes when it’s game time. Do any of these sound familiar?
->“She performs great in practice but falls apart in competition.”
->”He gets so frustrated after mistakes that he shuts down or gives up.”
->”She’s too hard on herself — one bad play ruins the whole game for her.”
->”He talks about quitting the sport he used to love.”
->”I don’t know what to say after games anymore without making it worse.”
What Parents Are Saying
“She Won the Short, Won the Long, and Had Her Personal Best”
“Ashley wanted me to let you know that she placed very well at her competition this past weekend, thanks to you! She won the short, won the long, and had her personal best. She now looks at her competitions like ice shows and has fun. It is really nice to see her thoroughly enjoying the skate. She is very focused and very confident. We definitely attribute this to you.”*
~Brenda Glassco, Skating Parent
“Michelle Had the Best Weekend of Soccer She Has Ever Played”
“Michelle had the best weekend of soccer she has ever played. She was relaxed, did not get frustrated with herself or teammates, and never once ‘shut down.’ Numerous parents noticed a difference in her composure and attitude. Thanks again for EVERYTHING — Michelle is in a very good place right now!”*
~Diana, Michelle’s Mother
“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.”*
~Randy Sullivan, Baseball Parent
Ready to Help Your Young Athlete Compete with Confidence?
Schedule a free introductory Zoom session. Tell us your child’s sport, age, and the challenges they’re facing — and we’ll have you up and running within a week:
How Youth Mental Coaching Works
Every virtual coaching program follows a 4-step mental coaching system based on 40+ years of Dr. Cohn’s work with young athletes and their families:
Step 1: Assessment
Your child takes the Young Athlete’s Mental Aptitude Assessment (YAMAP) to identify their specific mental game strengths and areas for improvement. Parents complete a separate intake so the coach understands the full picture — including what’s happening at home and on the sidelines.
Step 2: Strategies and Tools
Your child learns age-appropriate mental game strategies — pregame confidence routines, positive self-talk, focus techniques, and how to bounce back from mistakes. Parents learn what to say (and what not to say) before and after games.
Step 3: Review and Reinforcement
Between sessions, your child works through the Athlete’s Mental Edge workbook with audio exercises designed for young athletes. Parents receive guidance on how to reinforce mental skills at home without adding pressure.
Step 4: Application
Your child applies what they’ve learned directly to competition — pregame mental preparation, guided imagery, focus routines, and strategies for staying composed under pressure. You’ll see the changes show up in games, not just in conversation.
What Your Young Athlete Gains
Mental performance coaching for young athletes helps kids and teens uncover the mental blocks that keep them from performing to their potential. Here’s what changes:
- Practice confidence shows up in competition — not just in warmups
- Frustration after mistakes is replaced with composure and quick recovery
- Self-criticism softens into productive self-talk that builds momentum
- Anxiety before games turns into focused, calm readiness
- The joy of competing returns — instead of dread, pressure, or talk of quitting
But your child’s success doesn’t happen in a vacuum… What you do and say as a parent matters just as much.
What You Learn as a Sports Parent
Parents are a critical part of the process. You’ll learn how to support your child’s confidence without adding pressure:
- What to say before and after games that builds confidence instead of eroding it
- The 4 questions you should ask after every competition
- How to encourage your child to compete their best without pressuring them
- How to recognize when your expectations are helping — and when they’re hurting
- How to separate your child’s self-worth from their performance results
Every program includes: the YAMAP assessment for your child, a parent intake assessment, a custom weekly Mental Game Plan, weekly Zoom coaching sessions, unlimited email correspondence, and the Athlete’s Mental Edge workbook. Call us at 407-909-1700 with your questions.
Who Is Dr. Patrick Cohn?
Patrick J. Cohn, Ph.D. is the founder and president of Peak Performance Sports, LLC and one of the world’s most recognized mental performance coaches. He earned his Ph.D. in Applied Sports Psychology from the University of Virginia under Dr. Bob Rotella and his Master’s degree from California State University, Fullerton under Dr. Ken Ravizza. Over 40+ years he has coached Olympic Athletes, NFL teams, PGA Tour professionals, and thousands of youth and high school athletes across 35+ sports. He is the co-creator of the Kids’ Sports Psychology program, the Athlete’s Mental Edge Workbook Framework, and the Mental Game Coaching Professional (MGCP) Certification.
Work with a Certified Mental Performance Coach via Zoom
Every mental coach on our team is certified, experienced with young athletes and families, and ready to meet you where you are via Zoom. When you contact us, you are matched with the right coach for your child’s sport, age, and mental game challenges. Visit the bio pages of our certified mental performance coaches.
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More from Sports Parents
“The Difference in My Son Was Miraculous”
“I recently bought your program for kids who are perfectionist. I must say that the difference in my son was miraculous. He even wants to go into the field of sports psychology. I am so thankful that I found your program. It has made such a huge impact on our family.”*
~Sports Parent
“So Helpful — It Validates What I Have Observed”
“He’s got all the physical ability, but the more mistakes he makes, the worse it seems to get. Reading and listening to your information has been so helpful and validates what I have observed in him for the past few months. Thank you so much!”*
~Brenda Felder, Everett, WA
How to Introduce Mental Performance Coaching
Share this video with your athletes to introduce the value of mental performance coaching.
Why Virtual Coaching Works for Young Athletes
| Factor | Virtual (Zoom) | In-Person |
|---|---|---|
| Access | Anywhere in the world | Local area only |
| Scheduling | Flexible around school, practice & games | Office hours, commute required |
| Parent Involvement | Parents join from home — easy | Parents sit in a waiting room |
| Comfort | Kids talk more openly from home | New environment can feel clinical |
| Getting Started | Within 1 week | Depends on local availability |
| Travel Required | None | Yes — drive to office |
| Tools Included | YAMAP + Workbooks + Audio Programs | Varies by provider |
FAQ About Mental Performance Coaching for Young Athletes
What age should a young athlete start mental performance coaching?
Most young athletes benefit from mental performance coaching starting around age 12, when competitive pressure, travel team expectations, and the gap between practice and game performance become noticeable. Our coaches work with middle school, high school, and club-level athletes across all sports. Parents are involved in the early sessions to ensure mental skills are reinforced at home.
How are parents involved in the coaching process?
Parents are a critical part of youth mental coaching. You complete your own intake assessment, participate in early sessions, and receive ongoing guidance on what to say before and after games to build your child’s confidence. You’ll also learn the 4 key questions to ask after every competition — and what to avoid saying that can unintentionally hurt confidence.
Can youth mental coaching be done virtually via Zoom?
Yes — virtual coaching via Zoom is how the majority of our young athletes work with us. Kids often open up more easily from home than in a clinical office setting, and parents can easily join or observe sessions. Scheduling is flexible around school, practice, and game schedules. Most families start within a week of reaching out.
How quickly will my child see results?
Most young athletes notice a shift in their mindset within the first few sessions — particularly in how they handle mistakes, pregame nerves, and frustration. Measurable improvements in competition confidence, composure, and consistency typically develop over 4 to 8 weeks. The speed of improvement depends on how actively your child applies the mental skills and how well the family reinforces them at home.
How much does youth mental performance coaching cost?
Self-guided digital training programs — including The Confident Sports Kid — start from $79. Virtual coaching programs include weekly one-on-one sessions with a certified mental performance coach, the YAMAP assessment, a custom mental game plan, unlimited email support, and the Athlete’s Mental Edge workbook. Contact us for full coaching pricing.
Ready to Help Your Child Compete with Confidence?
Schedule a free introductory Zoom session. Tell us your child’s sport, age, and what you’re seeing — and we’ll have your family up and running within a week:
Available worldwide · No travel required · No commitment · Zoom · FaceTime · Phone
Or Call us today: 407-909-1700
What the Research Shows About Mental Training for Young Athletes
Psychological skills training produces measurable performance gains:
According to a 2024 meta-analysis published in Sports Medicine (Röthlin et al.), psychological skills training — including imagery, goal setting, self-talk, and attentional strategies — produced a significant moderate effect on athletic performance compared to control groups (effect size of 0.83), based on a systematic review of 111 studies with competitive athletes at the regional, university, and professional level.
Mental training improves emotion control and attention within weeks:
A 2020 randomized controlled trial published in BMC Psychology found that athletes who completed just four weeks of psychological skills training showed a greater than 99% probability of improvement in their ability to prevent emotions from interfering with performance, and significant gains in attention control during both training and competition, compared to a control group.
90% of reviews confirm mental skills training enhances performance:
A 2023 review of reviews published in the International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology examined 30 systematic reviews and meta-analyses spanning four decades of sport psychology research and found that 90% of published reviews concluded that psychological skills training interventions enhance athletic performance.
Sports Mental Performance Coaching (Select Your Sport)
All Sports | Auto Racing | Baseball | Basketball | Dance & Ballet | Equestrian | Figure Skating | Football | Golf | Gymnastics | Hockey | Horse Racing | Kart Racing | Lacrosse | Martial Arts & Boxing | Motocross | Mountain Bike Racing | Musicians & Actors | Pickleball | Putting Yips | Soccer | Softball | Shooting | Surfing | Skydiving | Swimming | Tennis | Throwing Yips | Track & Running | Trading | Volleyball | Wrestling
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 May 17, 2026