Mental Performance Development
Now Accepting New Athletes
A limited number of spots are available for Individual Mental Performance Training. Six personalized sessions focused on understanding and developing the mental side of sport.
Train the Mental Side of Your Game.
Athletes spend countless hours developing their physical skills, strength and understanding of the game. But what about the mental side of performance?
Confidence, focus, preparation, resilience and the ability to respond when things don't go as planned are all important parts of an athlete's development.
And just like physical skills, mental performance skills can be developed through purposeful training.
Throughout my experiences in sport as a player, coach and leader, I've seen firsthand the important role the mental side of performance plays in an athlete's development. I've worked with athletes at different stages of their journeys, from those finding their confidence and navigating the challenges of competitive sport to those competing at provincial, national and university levels.
Those experiences have reinforced something I strongly believe: developing the athlete means developing the person, not just their physical and technical abilities.
It's also shaped how I approach Mental Performance training. I understand that athletes experience the game differently, that development is rarely a straight line, and that the challenges athletes face extend beyond what happens during a game.
At Mind Body Hockey, our Individual Mental Performance program brings together those experiences with practical, athlete-centred development strategies. The goal is to help athletes better understand themselves and develop tools they can use in practices, games, tryouts and other challenging situations.
Whether your athlete is looking to build confidence, improve focus, navigate expectations or simply continue growing as a competitor, Mental Performance training provides another opportunity to support their development.
Mental Performance isn't only for athletes experiencing challenges. It's another important part of developing the complete athlete.
Where Do We Start?
With Your Athlete.
Every athlete is different.
Their strengths. Their experiences. Their goals. Their challenges.
Some athletes struggle to regain confidence after making a mistake. Others put tremendous pressure on themselves to perform, become distracted by things outside their control or have difficulty recognizing the progress they're making.
And some athletes are already performing well but want to become more consistent, better prepared, and more confident in their approach to competition.
There isn't one approach that works for every athlete.
We start by getting to know your athlete, understanding what matters to them and identifying the areas where they want to grow.
From there, we work together to develop practical strategies that reflect their individual needs, experiences and development goals.
Because mental performance development should never be one-size-fits-all.
“Mind Body Hockey’s Mental Performance program has completely transformed our son’s mental game. After moving up to a highly competitive tier last season, he lost his confidence and would spiral when things went wrong on the ice. The coaching helped him learn how to reframe his performance and provided excellent tools to reset after a tough shift.
What impressed us most was how Nolan immediately built a fantastic rapport with our son, who can be incredibly shy with new people. He made him feel completely safe, understood, and comfortable right from the start.
Going into this next season, our son has his confidence back, a renewed love for the game, and the tools he needs to handle game-time frustration. Thank you for this amazing program!”
What Can Mental Performance Training Help With?
Before athletes can develop mental performance skills, it's important that they understand what those skills actually mean.
Confidence, focus, resilience and mental toughness are terms athletes hear regularly, but they're also concepts that are often misunderstood. Athletes can develop beliefs about what they should think, feel or do that don't necessarily support their performance or development.
Our approach starts with understanding. We help athletes explore these concepts, challenge common misconceptions and develop a better understanding of how they influence their experiences in sport.
From there, we introduce practical strategies they can apply to their own development.
Building Confidence
What is confidence? Where does it come from? Does being confident mean always feeling good about your game or never experiencing doubt?
We help athletes explore what confidence is—and isn't—while challenging the idea that it must depend on results or external validation. From there, we work on recognizing strengths, building confidence through preparation and action, and developing strategies to maintain it through the ups and downs of sport.
Improving Focus
Does being focused mean never getting distracted? Can athletes control every thought that enters their mind?
We help athletes better understand attention, recognize common distractions and learn that losing focus is a normal part of performance. The emphasis is on developing strategies to recognize when attention has shifted and redirect it toward what matters.
Preparing for Competition
What does it actually mean to be mentally prepared? Does an athlete need to feel confident, calm or excited before they're ready to compete?
We explore the difference between preparation and trying to control how we feel. Athletes develop practical routines and habits that support their readiness for practices, games, tryouts and other performance situations.
Navigating Pressure and Expectations
Where does pressure come from? Is pressure always negative? Do athletes need to eliminate nervousness to perform well?
We help athletes explore how they interpret pressure, the expectations they place on themselves and the influence of outside factors. Athletes develop strategies to approach challenging situations without becoming consumed by outcomes or expectations.
Responding to Mistakes and Setbacks
What makes a mistake affect the next shift, play or game? Does being mentally tough mean never getting frustrated or disappointed?
We help athletes understand that mistakes, frustration and disappointment are normal experiences in sport. The focus is on recognizing their responses, challenging unhelpful beliefs and developing practical strategies to reset, learn and move forward.
Understanding What They Can Control
How much control does an athlete really have over their performance? What happens when they focus on decisions, outcomes or opinions they cannot influence?
We help athletes distinguish between what they can control, what they can influence and what falls outside both. From there, athletes develop strategies to direct their attention and energy toward productive actions and responses.
Developing Self-Awareness
How well do athletes understand themselves? Can they recognize what influences their confidence, focus, emotions and behaviour?
We help athletes explore their individual patterns, recognize their strengths and identify the situations that challenge them. Developing greater self-awareness provides a foundation for making more intentional decisions and applying the strategies they learn.
Practical Tools. Real Situations.
Telling an athlete to "be confident," "stay positive," or "forget about the last shift" is easy.
Knowing how to actually do those things is another matter.
Our Mental Performance sessions go beyond simply talking about mindset.
Athletes are introduced to practical strategies they can understand, practice and apply in situations they experience throughout their season.
Whether it's preparing for an important game, responding to a mistake, navigating tryout pressure or working through a challenging stretch, the focus is on helping athletes develop tools they can use independently.
We aren't trying to eliminate pressure, mistakes or adversity. Those experiences are part of sport and development.
We're helping athletes learn how to respond to them.
Experience That Shapes the Approach
Mental Performance training at Mind Body Hockey is informed by years of experience working with athletes as a player, coach, educator and leader.
From minor hockey to provincial, national and university competition, I've had the opportunity to work with athletes at different stages of their development and experience firsthand the challenges, expectations and pressures that come with competitive sport.
Those experiences have reinforced my belief that developing athletes involves much more than improving their physical and technical skills. It's about understanding the person, supporting their growth and helping them develop practical tools they can carry into sport and beyond.
Individual Mental Performance Development
6-Session Individual Package
$450 + GST
6 individual 30-minute sessions
Delivered by phone or online
Personalized to your athlete
Our Individual Mental Performance program is designed to provide athletes with ongoing support and opportunities to develop the mental side of their performance.
Rather than a single conversation, athletes participate in a series of focused, individual sessions that allow us to explore their experiences, introduce practical strategies and build on their development over time.
Sessions are conversational, interactive and tailored to each athlete's needs. Between sessions, athletes are encouraged to apply what they've learned in their everyday training and competition environments.
Sessions are delivered by phone or online, making it easier to fit mental performance development around school, practices, games and family schedules.
The goal isn't to change who your athlete is. It's to help them better understand themselves and develop the tools to support their continued growth.
Limited Spots Available
Throughout the year, we open a limited number of spots for Individual Mental Performance Training to ensure each athlete receives personalized attention and support.
We are currently welcoming up to 8 new athletes into the program.
Interested in getting started? Register below to secure your athlete's spot.
If registration is full, we encourage you to join our waitlist. We'll reach out as additional opportunities become available.
“Working with Nolan through the Mental Performance Program was an incredibly valuable experience for our daughter. The program was tailored to her individual needs and provided a clear, step-by-step approach to developing skills both on and off the ice.
Nolan helped her understand that success in sports is about more than athletic ability. It’s about self-awareness, confidence, resilience, and learning from both wins and losses. He taught her how to see the bigger picture, recognize her strengths, identify areas for growth, and respond positively to adversity.
The tools and strategies she gained have helped her stay confident, navigate setbacks, and continue moving forward. We would highly recommend this program to any athlete looking to strengthen the mental side of their game.
The confidence, perspective, and resilience she gained through this program will benefit her far beyond hockey.”
Team Mental Performance Training
In addition to individual training, we also offer Mental Performance sessions for teams looking to develop confidence, focus, preparation, resilience and other important aspects of performance.
Team sessions are arranged on an individual basis and tailored to the team's age, experiences and development goals.
Interested in bringing Mental Performance Training to your team? Contact us to discuss your team's needs and available options.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is Mental Performance Training for?
Mental Performance Training is for athletes looking to develop their confidence, focus, preparation, resilience and overall approach to sport. Athletes don't need to be experiencing difficulties to benefit. Whether your athlete is navigating a particular challenge or simply looking to continue their development, sessions are tailored to their individual experiences, needs and goals.
2. How does registration and scheduling work?
Once you've registered for the Individual Mental Performance program, you'll receive a link to a private booking calendar where you can schedule your athlete's six individual 30-minute appointments.
This allows you to select dates and times that work around your athlete's school, training, competition and family commitments.
Sessions are delivered by phone or online.
3. How long do we have to complete the six sessions?
Your Mental Performance package includes six individual 30-minute sessions, which can be scheduled over a period of up to six months from the date of purchase.
While scheduling is flexible, we encourage families to maintain some consistency between sessions. This allows athletes time to understand, practise and apply the strategies introduced while continuing to build on their development.