THE COACHING CRAFT BLOG

By Dylan Villalobos, Director of TheCoachingMindsetOrg The phrase “growth mindset” has become a fixture in classrooms, coaching courses, and sports psychology discussions. Coined by Carol Dweck (2006), the concept encourages individuals to believe that ability and intelligence can be developed through effort, feedback, and persistence. Yet in many learning and sporting environments, this powerful framework has been diluted to a simple slogan: “Try harder.” The result is what

At The Coaching Mindset, we understand that physical prowess is only half the battle in sport. You can have the strongest legs, the quickest hands, or the most precise shot, but without a robust mental game, true peak performance often remains just out of reach. In fact, many coaches and athletes agree that at the elite level, the difference between good and great often lies squarely in the mind. This is where the psychology of peak performance  comes in. It’s about more than

Competitive sport, by its very nature, comes with pressure. For young athletes, the desire to perform well, coupled with expectations from coaches, parents, and even themselves, can lead to anxiety. This anxiety can manifest in physical symptoms (like racing heartbeats and nausea), negative thoughts, and ultimately, can hinder performance. So, how can we equip young athletes to manage these pressures and perform at their best? Understanding Anxiety in Sport: It's important to