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Sports Psychology CoachingAuthor: Eli Straw
Welcome to the Success Starts Within podcast! Mental performance coach, Eli Straw, discusses mental game and sport psychology tips, tools, and techniques you can use to elevate your mindset and reach peak performance.*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. Language: en-us Genres: Health & Fitness, Mental Health, Sports Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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What’s the Best Approach for Athletes Confident in Practice but Nervous in Games?
Friday, 20 February, 2026
Why are you confident in practice but nervous in games?Many athletes play freely and confidently during training — but once competition starts, they feel anxious, tight, and afraid of making mistakes. In this episode, I explain why this happens and the best approach for athletes who are confident in practice but nervous in games.As a mental performance coach, this is one of the most common issues I see. The difference between practice and competition is not skill, it’s pressure, consequences, and how you respond to nervousness.In this video, you’ll learn:Why games feel more intense than practiceThe real reason nervousness leads to tension and poor performanceWhy trying to “force confidence” makes things worseHow to accept nerves without letting them control youHow to shift from outcome-focused thinking to controllable goalsA simple two-step approach to play more freely in competitionKey takeaway: Nervousness is not the problem. The way you respond to nervousness determines how you perform.Instead of trying to eliminate nerves or create fake confidence, you’ll learn how to:Acknowledge that games matter and accept nervousnessFocus on small, specific, controllable actions that lead to successThis process builds real confidence — the kind that shows up under pressure.If you struggle with performance anxiety, game-day nerves, fear of mistakes, or playing worse in games than in practice, this episode will help you develop a stronger mental approach to competition.—I also offer a 12-week 1-on-1 mental performance coaching program where we:Start with a full mental game assessmentBuild your custom mental game planMeet weekly to train mental skillsUse structured exercises and accountabilityProvide ongoing support between sessions ➡️ Interested in 1-1 mental performance coaching? Schedule your free introductory call to learn more: https://www.successstartswithin.com/get-coaching 🥇Team Mental Performance Coaching Program: https://www.successstartswithin.com/mental-coaching-for-teams/ 👉 Confident Competitor Academy: Go from playing with fear & anxiety to playing with confidence in just 6 weeks! 👉 Mentally Tough Kid Course 📖 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.
