Experienced Coaches’ #1 Frustration? Athletes Not Playing to Their Potential.
Not just because we want to win and hate to lose (which is true), but becauseÂ
It's our job to make them better.
And for a reason we can’t quite understand…
It’s gotten harder to get through to this generation of athletes.
We push them.
We train them.
We give them instruction and feedback.
It’s the same game plan that's worked for forever - by Hall of Famers and by every coach who’s ever written a book or given a keynote speech.Â
So what changed?
Athletes seem less motivated...
And more overwhelmed.
They either try too hard and beat themselves up constantly…
Or they don’t seem to try at all.Â
The worst part?
Knowing what they’re capable of...
With no clue how to help.Â
It can make even the most successful coaches wonder, Â
"How much longer can I do this?"
The X’s & O’s aren’t enough anymore.
The game has changed. Because the athletes playing it have.
As training has improved and talent has increased, so has the expectation.
There’s more pressure on athletes than ever before. And it’s public.
Not just those games that are televised, either.
One bad day. One embarrassing mistake. It’s all over social media.
Then (even if nobody will remember the mistake by next week) their mind immediately plays out the worst case scenario.
Which feels just as awful.
Then they choke.
Or they shut down.
Or they don’t try as hard next time.
That’s what it means to play scared.
That’s Playing to Not Lose.
When they’re in that mode, you know they’ll never feel confident. And when they’re not confident, they won’t play their best.
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The good news is: we can help.Â
How to Get them to Play to Win
The Play to Win Assessment is a 3-part process that takes you from "Will I ever get through to them?" to "I know exactly how to help" (in less than 30 minutes).
Step 1: Take the Assessment  5 min
12 questions, based on real-world scenarios, showing you how often they’re playing to not lose.
Step 2: Discover what that actually means for your big goals  5 minÂ
A 1-pg PDF explaining what this means for your team and your big goals, in coach terms.
Step 3: Understand why & what to do about it (without a counseling degree)Â Â 15 min
This audio “micro clinic” explains why more effort, more reps, and better recruiting don't prevent your team from falling short or getting stuck on a plateau... & what does.
We've all spent plenty of time and money on coaching education... That simply falls short.
It’s the books that are so inspiring...
Then get tucked back on the shelf & maybe referenced once or twice.
It's the talks that get you pumped...
Until you go back to your usual routine & the same ol' thing.
It's the strategies that have been game-changers for other coaches...
But when you try to implement it with your team, you don’t get the same results.Â
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All these great ideas fall flat because they didn’t get to the root cause for your specific team.
If you want lasting improvement, you have to start by understanding exactly where this team is now.
Only then can they truly begin to Play to Win.
I know because I go through this process each season. And my teams are always competitive.
Even the teams that weren’t as talented.
Even when we’re outmatched by top-in-the-country opponents.
Even if we’re still building and haven’t peaked yet.
In 17 years coaching and almost a decade as a collegiate head coach…
My teams are frequently complemented on their resilience and grit.
It’s because I’ve always coached from this core Sport Psychology principle:
A mastery-focused environment increases motivation and improves training.*Â
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This is my “process.”Â
It helps them focus better in training, make adjustments that last, and get the results they've worked so hard for.
That process starts with understanding where your team currently stands.
When you get the Assessment, you’ll not only…
✔ Know where your team stands
✔ See how it affects their goals
✔ Know why & what to do about it
(Which would cost minimum $40
if IÂ offered this as a one-off)
You’ll also get these actionable tools!
>> The Team Pulse Check Card
Keep this with you so you can quickly gauge whether your team is playing to win… or to not lose. Then you can make an adjustment before the competition is over and it’s too late.
>> The 10-Second Reset Routine
When your athletes are in the moment, they need something more than “You’re fine,” to calm them down and help them refocus. This science-backed routine does that for them in seconds.
>> The Coach Pulse Check Card
It’s just as important (if not more so) to make sure the coaching staff is playing to win. This card helps keep the big kids in check.
(These would run at least $10 on Amazon)
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That's a $50 program & resource bundle…
86% off.
Why?
Because I HATE wasting time and I don't want other coaches to waste theirs simply because they were missing this crucial step.
I want this in every coach’s toolbox as quickly as possible.
Because I know how important this is.
How powerful it is.
And how much our players need this.
It’s 10x more valuable than that coffee you like to buy (and I’m someone who needs her coffee), and…
It’s what your team needed yesterday.
So if you’re thinking of putting this off, remember how you felt at the end of last season.
Then ask yourself, “If I had this training, could we have done better/gone further/enjoyed the process more?”
If the answer is yes, don’t hesitate.
Common Questions
How long does this take to complete?
What exactly do I have to do?
Why is this only $7?
Can I do this later?
Who are you to be teaching this?
It all comes down to this. What are you willing to do to help your team achieve their dreams?
You’re busy. You have a lot on your plate. And you have very little time to add new things.
I get that more than you know.
But what you have to ask is what you’re risking by not addressing these things.
Same athletes choking under pressure.
Same lack of effort.
Same lapses in focus.
The same frustration and disappointment when you reflect on another season that feels like a failure.
Or... They could finally start playing to win.
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And after a full and exciting career, have a Senior Day like this where they KNOW they gave their absolute all.