Athlete Coaching

Your athlete’s performance doesn’t break down because they don’t care, aren’t working hard, or lack talent.

At the high school and collegiate level, most performance struggles come from pressure overwhelming the nervous system.

When that happens, skills don’t disappear; access to them does.

Heart First Athlete Coaching supports high school and college athletes by training regulation, confidence, and emotional resilience so they can compete with clarity and consistency when it matters most.

This work is not therapy.
It’s not just thinking positively.
It’s performance training for the nervous system.

Book a Call →

What Athletes Are Saying

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Athletes don’t struggle because they don’t know what to do.
They struggle because their nervous system overrides training under pressure.

Ryan Sawyer, Founder Heart First Mental Strength Academy

What Parents and Coaches Are Actually Seeing

Strong practice performance, but inconsistency in games
Athletes tightening up under pressure
Confidence is tied closely to outcomes
Emotional swings after mistakes
Fear of letting others down
Difficulty bouncing back during competition
Talented athletes underperforming in big moments

These are not discipline or mindset problems.

They are stress-response patterns showing up in competition.

Regulation Is Not a Wellness Tool
It’s a Competitive Skill

In high-pressure environments, an athlete’s nervous system determines:

How clearly they think and react
How quickly they recover after mistakes
Whether pressure sharpens focus or creates panic
How confidently they communicate on the field
How consistently they perform under evaluation

We don’t teach regulation, so athletes “calm down.”
We train them so they compete with confidence and stability.

This work doesn’t lower intensity; it helps athletes handle intensity without breaking down.

How We Work With Athletes and Teams

Competitive Edge — 1:1 Athlete Coaching

For parents investing in their athlete’s performance and long-term development.

Competitive Edge is a personalized 12-Week 1:1 coaching program for high school and college athletes navigating pressure, performance expectations, and identity.

Coaching focuses on:

Nervous-system regulation under pressure
Emotional resilience and recovery
Confidence rooted in stability, not outcome
Embodied visualization and mental rehearsal
Competing freely in high-stakes environments
Separating self-worth from performance while staying competitive

Team Training & Ongoing Support

For club owners, head coaches, and athletic directors.

Team training and ongoing support are designed to strengthen performance consistency, communication, and emotional responsibility across the entire program.

Training focuses on:

Regulation skills athletes can apply during competition
Communication under stress
Psychological safety with accountability

Athletes who:

Stay composed when pressure rises
Recover quickly after mistakes
Compete with confidence and freedom
Trust themselves in critical moments
Perform consistently when it matters most

Programs that:

Share a common performance language
Handle adversity with stability
Communicate clearly under stress
Develop resilient, accountable athletes

Book a Call →

Group photo of volleyball team. We help athletes win from within!

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Athlete Coaching Outcomes

Mental Resilience

Develop the strength to stay composed and confident under pressure, avoiding breakdowns and maintaining self-belief.

Boosted Confidence

Cultivate a strong sense of self-belief, enabling you to approach every challenge with unwavering confidence and decisiveness.

Present & Focused

Learn to stay locked in on the present moment, effortlessly moving on from mistakes and maintaining focus.

Mental Clarity

Break free from overthinking and distractions, achieving a clear, focused mind that enhances your performance.

Faster Recovery

Build the ability to quickly recover from setbacks, maintain your passion for the game, and push through challenges.

Stronger Teammate

Become a better teammate by overcoming personal mental battles, contributing positively to team morale and supporting others.

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Trusted By

What an amazing opportunity for young athletes to work with such a fantastic mindset coach! Our daughter had a great experience that stretched her mind for positive growth both on and off the court!

Heather Paulson, Athlete Parent

Start the Conversation

Let's explore your athlete's specific needs and goals, and how our mental performance training can support them, outlining your best next steps.

Work with Spokane’s leading mental performance coach. Discover how Heart First Mental Strength Academy can help you or your athlete gain the confidence, focus, and resilience to compete — and win — from the inside out.

Step 1

Parent or Coach Books A Free Discovery Call

Your first step is to schedule a clarity call with us. This conversation is for parents, guardians, or coaches to share goals, ask questions, and learn how our program can support your athlete’s growth.

Step 2

We Connect a Coach with Your Athlete

If you are interested in moving forward, we can schedule a time after our call for one of our coaches to connect directly with your athlete via Zoom. This is a chance for them to get to know each other and ensure it’s a great fit.

Step 3

Set the Schedule & Get Started!

Once we’re all aligned, we’ll create a schedule that fits your athlete's life, and then we get to work helping them grow in confidence, mindset, and performance.

Start Here →