Why Mental Training for Athletes Is Never “One and Done”
“I’m in my car because I can’t even be in my house. I live with my teammates.”
It was as if my client “Jessica” was hiding out in shame.
Jessica was ready to meet again after almost a year away from mental performance coaching.
Our very first session was in October 2024 — almost one year ago to the day.
It felt like déjà vu.
Jessica, a Division I basketball player, was once again anxious about the fast-approaching season — her role, her playing time, her coaches’ expectations.
It was almost like we’d never left.
Now a junior, she’s still wrestling with the same questions she faced as a freshman. The transition from high school star to college reserve still stings.
Last October, she described her confidence as “up and down — like a roller coaster.”
This October, she’s still on that same ride, her confidence tied to what she can’t control:
Coaches.
Teammates.
Playing time.
And, statistics.
For Jessica, that means being on the “gray” team — with the backups. The starters wear red.
Not being in red still drives her crazy.
What Four Sessions Did Last Season
Last season, we worked together for four sessions between mid-October and early November.
In that short window, she made huge strides by:
Accepting her situation.
Focusing on what she could control.
Judging success by effort, not outcome.
By November, she was in a better place. She didn’t dread basketball anymore — and her performance followed.
That’s what mental training for athletes can do in just a few weeks.
On October 14, 2025, I met with an anxious, unsure player again.
Eleven months later, we were right back where we started.
Why?
Because she stopped doing the mental work that got her there in the first place.
Jessica slipped back into old habits:
Worrying about others’ opinions.
Taking feedback as criticism.
Comparing herself to teammates.
The Myth of Being “Fixed”
After a breakout game last year — 13 points in just 20 minutes off the bench — Jessica decided she was “good.” She didn’t need to continue with our work together.
I was thrilled for her progress, but I had a feeling I’d see her again. I just wasn’t sure when.
Don’t misunderstand me.
I want every client to use the tools we develop together on their own.
But sometimes, they think they’re “fixed” — until they realize they’ve drifted back to old patterns.
Like Jessica.
That’s the myth.
Mental training for athletes has no finish line. A good game doesn’t mean the work is done. It means the work is working.
What’s often missing is accountability — the voice that keeps them on track until new habits stick.
Almost one year ago to the day, Jessica was back.
Same preseason. Same fears.
I said to her:
“You’re at the same point in the year as we were a year ago — frustrated, overwhelmed, unsure where you stand.”
She nodded, defeated.
“Yeah, not really feeling optimistic right now.”
But I still saw progress.
She’s more open now, more willing to ask for help. She just stopped training the muscle.
3 Daily Habits That Make Mental Training for Athletes Stick
Jessica doesn’t need an overhaul. She just needs to pick up where we left off — and commit to sticking with it.
I introduced Jessica to the idea of taking small, consistent actions for just five minutes a day. Here are three that we discussed:
- Journaling: setting daily intentions and focusing on controllable actions.
- Visualization: reviewing film from her best performances and learning from the tougher ones.
- Reframing: viewing challenges as learning opportunities, not personal attacks.
Journaling gives her mind a job before practice starts. One intention, plus one or two actions she controls, like her effort and how she responds to a mistake.
Visualization reminds her what her best looks like. The tougher film matters too, as long as she watches it to learn and not to punish herself.
Reframing changes what feedback means. A coach’s correction becomes information she can use, not a verdict on her as a player.
None of this is particularly complicated. Mental training for athletes rarely is.
The hard part is doing it on the days when things are going well and it feels like you don’t need it.
Like performance routines for athletes, these habits only work when they’re repeated.
Mental Training for Athletes Works Like Lifting Weights
Her story isn’t about failure — it’s about what happens when we stop doing what works.
As I told her:
“Mental training is like lifting weights. You don’t stay strong because you did it once. You stay strong because you keep showing up.”
No athlete expects one good month in the weight room to carry them through a career.
Mental training for athletes deserves the same expectation. Confidence built in October has to be maintained in January, in the offseason, and again the next October.
Jessica can’t get the last 11 months back.
Her job now is to:
Accept where she’s at.
Change her behavior.
And, rebuild one day at a time.
My job is to have her back for as long as she wants me around.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mental Training for Athletes
What is mental training for athletes?
Mental training for athletes is the regular practice of skills like setting intentions, visualization, and reframing, so confidence and focus hold up under pressure. It is training, the same as strength or skill work, which means it has to be repeated to keep working.
How long does mental training for athletes take to work?
It can work quickly. Jessica made real progress in four sessions over about three weeks. Keeping that progress is the harder part, and it depends on what the athlete does after the sessions end.
Why do athletes lose confidence after making progress?
Usually because they stop doing what built it. A good game or a good stretch convinces them they’re “fixed.” The daily habits fade, and old patterns like comparison and worrying about others’ opinions come back.
How much time should mental training take each day?
Five minutes is enough to start. A short journal entry, a few minutes of film or visualization, and one reframe of a tough moment add up. Small actions repeated daily matter more than an occasional long session.
Michael Huber holds a master’s degree in sport psychology and work as a mental performance coach. I use mental training for athletes ages 14 to 22 to build the skills that let them be themselves when everyone is watching. Learn more about Michael.
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