In this episode, I explain what to say to your athlete after a bad game and how the wrong conversation can actually hurt their confidence moving forward. I break down how criticism increases fear and pressure, why athletes struggle to move on from poor performances, and how you can guide them to bounce back faster.

🧠 Mental Performance Coaching for Athletes:
If your athlete struggles with confidence, pressure, or letting one bad game turn into many, I work with athletes through my 12-week one-on-one mental performance coaching program.

Learn more: https://www.successstartswithin.com/mental-performance-coaching/

🎯 In this episode, you’ll learn:

• When to talk to your athlete after a bad game
• Why criticism can increase fear and lower confidence
• How to shift their focus to effort, attitude, and controllables
• How to talk about mistakes in a way that builds confidence
• How to help them learn from mistakes without overthinking
• Why separating identity from performance is so important

Work with me!

🧠 1-1 Mental Performance Coaching for Athletes: https://www.successstartswithin.com/mental-performance-coaching/

👉 Confident Competitor Academy: Go from playing with fear & anxiety to playing with confidence in just 6 weeks!

👉 Mentally Tough Kid Course (for youth athletes)

📖 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.