National Sports Performance Institute

True elite programs recognize that athletics, competition, and peak performance requires not only physical skill, but mental conditioning and life management as well.  The research in the field of peak performance shows that elite athletes balance their athletic training with mental training and off-the-field life management (Triangle for Optimal Performance). Our program teaches the concepts needed for mental conditioning and develops the insights and skills needed for athletes to excel in all three areas.

Each component of our “Triangle for Athletic Success” complements and carries over to each area. Learning the concepts of mental conditioning enhances physical training. Off-field life management educates athletes on the many “de-railers” that can threaten their careers. Our philosophy and belief is that it is the total athlete as a person that makes a peak performer.

The Institute's mental conditioning program educates, evaluates, and individualizes a plan for each organization, team, and athlete.  The benefits of participating in the Institute's mental conditioning program include:

• Increases an athlete’s mental and emotional capacity to learn and overcome performance challenges in the mental game.
• Maximizes athlete’s understanding of their mental qualities to improve sport performance.
• Improves practice and game routines, preparation and ongoing feedback.
• Reinforces the fundamentals of the mental game.
• Develops maximum goal-setting, motivation, enjoyment.
• Strengthens athletes’ mental capacity to handle and overcome performance setbacks and challenges.
• Decreases mental game errors and increases insight into the mental game.
• Development of an individualized mental game program and workbook.

By registering for the Mental Conditioning Program you will have access to the complete step by step Mental Game Curriculum.

The assessment is part of the Institute's program for the development of the athlete. Most assessments of the mental part of the game that are available in the market today are based upon older thinking about the fixed nature of personality traits.  For example, older thinking argues that motivation is a fixed trait in a person and isn’t much influenced by training. These "older" beliefs have two negative consequences: (1) they discourage a person from making attempts to build, modify, or change their own mental skills; and (2) they provide little guidance for coaches or parents to assist in developing better mental skills in their athlete.

Today’s leading researchers disagree with this older thinking and offer proof that motivation, and other important mental skills, are not fixed but can be improved with training.  Considering the scientific evidence, the Institute, in partnership with AS&K Sports, uses a scientifically-validated integrated assessment (MSA) to build an athletes’ mental skills for success in sports and in life. 

Athletes entering the Institute's program complete an assessment and evaluation ranging from the Athlete’s Coping Skills Inventory; CBA-for Sports (cognitive-behavioral assessment); Ready to Play Profile; or 16PF personality profile.  An individualized plan is developed from these assessments that is designed to maximize each athlete’s strengths and focus on areas to improve on.

Mental Skills Training (MST) refers to the ability to systematically and consistently practice and apply mental / psychological skills to enhance performance, enjoyment, and satisfaction.  Research and experience has proven that certain skills can elevate performance of the athlete when proper knowledge and techniques are applied.  Athletes, coaches, and parents are beginning to gain knowledge in this emerging area and recognize that these skills can provide a significant competitive advantage to the elite athlete. 

The Institute’s MST program is designed to enhance an athletes’ performance by providing education and insight about concepts, terminology, and the importance of mental skills training; teaching the athlete new strategies, skills, and techniques necessary to apply the acquired skills; and supporting the athlete to practice, integrate, and apply learned skills in competitive practice and game situations / events. 

Using the information gleaned from the Assessment and Evaluation, each athletes mental game strengths and limitations are identified and incorporated into an individualized plan specifically unique to that athlete. 

Players that sign-up for Mental Skills Training (MST) receive an intensive one-month experience that offers 3-4 face-to-face contacts that use the assessment as the baseline to establish opportunities for the development of player self-assessment and goal-setting leading to long-term, sustainable performance improvement.  Evaluation and feedback includes review based on attendance at practices/games; phone/text communications and feedback;  Review and follow-up of daily player self-assessments of practice and games, coupled with readings and assignments including the compilation of a "mental game" workbook.

Individualized MST plans are developed from the following Sports-specific and Life Management Content Areas and can be customized to suite the individual athlete or team/group:

Sports-specific Content Areas:

• Effective Goal-setting to Optimize Athletic Results;
• Enhancing Motivation and Developing Commitment to Elite Competition;
• Managing Anxiety and Stress Associated with High-performance Expectations (Competitive Anxiety Management);
• Achieving Mental Toughness and Handling Adversity and Setbacks;
• Focus and Concentration: Minimizing Competition Distractions, and Keeping Focus Throughout Competition;
• Using Visualization Techniques to Improve Practice and Game Performance;
• Entering “The Zone” (and How to Stay There);
• Improving Performance in a Team-based Environment: Teamwork and Team Cohesion for Athletes.
• The Leadership Journey: From Teammate to Team Captain;
• Are You Ready? Improving Game Day Performance Through Preparation Routines.

Life Management Content Areas:

• Identifying and Coping with Off-field Stressors;
• Family and Friends: Who are My Supporters and How Do They Influence Me?
• Time Management: Finding Balance as an Elite Athlete;
• Developing Your Identity as an Elite Athlete;
• Recognizing Burnout and How to Avoid It;
• Identifying your “De-railers”: Wine, Women and Song – The Saga of Drugs and Alcohol;
• Health Risk of Legal and “Safe” Performance Supplements:  The Role of Proper Rest, Recovery, and Nutrition;

Player Progress Management (PPM):

Players will also have the opportunity to enter the Player Progress Management (PPM) program where the Mental Coach and player interact to ensure that initial improvements are sustained over time.  PPM includes Mental Coach availability by phone/text for performance progress review; performance crisis intervention; and periodic feedback.

The Institute offers individualized and team-based programs and services.  Pricing is based on set criteria as follows:

• Assessment and Evaluation: Included in program;
• Mental Skills Training (MST) Individualized Programs: $375 per course;
• Player Progress Management (PPM) Program: Month-to-month - $185; Three-Months - $165; Six-Months - $150;
• Individual Sessions: $110 per hour;
• Team Programs: $375 per course;

Other customized services and arrangements will be determined and priced upon mutual agreement.

By registering for the Mental Conditioning Program you will have access to the complete step by step Mental Game Curriculum.