Your Kids Practice Well. Why Do They Struggle in Competition?
Trusted by families in 35+ sports for over 40 years · Youth to Division I Athletes
Virtual mental performance coaching. Proven system. Sessions via Zoom.
Does This Sound Like Your Athlete?
- Plays confidently in practice but freezes or falls apart in games
- Gets frustrated after mistakes and can’t let them go
- Talks about quitting or says they’re “not good enough”
- Has the physical skills — but something mental is holding them back
- Puts so much pressure on themselves that they stop having fun
Every parent wants to see their child thrive in sports. But when your young athlete starts doubting themselves, getting frustrated, shrinking under pressure, or talking about quitting. It’s hard to know what to say or do.
That’s exactly what we help with….
You’ve tried encouraging them. You’ve tried giving space. You’ve Googled what to say after a bad game. The pattern keeps repeating. That’s not a physical problem. It’s a mental game problem. And it won’t fix itself.
“Ashley wanted me to let you know that she placed very well at her competition this past weekend, thanks to you! She won the short, won the long, and had her personal best. She now looks at her competitions like ice shows and has fun. It is really nice to see her thoroughly enjoying the skate. She is very focused and very confident. We definitely attribute this to you.”*
~Brenda Glassco, Skating Parent
Book a Free Introductory Session for Your Athlete
What Is Virtual Mental Performance Coaching for Kids?
Virtual sports psychology coaching for young athletes is one-on-one online training that helps kids and teens overcome the mental barriers — fear of failure, perfectionism, low confidence, frustration after mistakes, and performance anxiety — that prevent them from competing the way they practice.
Your child works directly with a certified mental performance coach via Zoom, FaceTime, or phone. Sessions are private, personalized, and built around your athlete’s specific mental game challenges. Parents are included in the process so you know exactly how to support your child at home and on the sideline.
How the Program Works: A 4-Step System Built for Kids
Step 1: Mental Game Assessment (YAMAP or AMAP)
Your child completes the Young Athlete’s Mental Aptitude Assessment (YAMAP or AMAP) to identify their specific mental strengths and the barriers holding them back. Parents complete a separate assessment so we understand the full picture — including what’s happening at home and on the sidelines.
Step 2: Personalized Mental Game Plan
Your child’s coach builds a custom mental training plan targeting their specific challenges — whether that’s confidence, focus, pressure management, or bouncing back from mistakes.
Step 3: Weekly One-on-One Coaching Sessions
Four 50 min sessions or six 30-minute sessions conducted via Zoom, FaceTime, or phone. Each session teaches practical mental skills your athlete can apply immediately in practice and competition.
Step 4: Reinforcement Between Sessions
Your child works through the Athlete’s Mental Edge Workbook between sessions. You receive coaching on what to say and what not to say to reinforce mental skills at home without adding pressure.
What Your Athletes Will Learn
- Build confidence that carries from practice into competition
- Develop a pre-competition routine that creates focus and calm
- Let go of mistakes quickly and get back in the game mentally
- Stop tying their self-worth to results and stats
- Use positive self-talk to stay composed under pressure
- Manage expectations — their own and yours — without shutting down
“Autumn has been doing AWESOME! Her speed and decision making are drastically better. She is much more confident, and the results are showing. Thanks again for all your help with Autumn. She is really doing well and I’m confident much of it comes from your help!”
~Brian Criste, Racing Parent
What You’ll Learn as a Sports Parent:
- The four questions to ask after every game (and what not to say)
- How to support your athlete without adding pressure
- How to read your child’s mindset and respond in the right way
- Specific language that builds confidence instead of eroding it
Why Families Trust Kids’ Sports Psychology by Peak Performance Sports
Dr. Patrick J. Cohn, Ph.D. is the founder of Kids’ Sports Psychology by Peak Performance Sports and one of the world’s most cited mental performance coaches. He earned his Ph.D. in Applied Sports Psychology from the University of Virginia under Dr. Bob Rotella, and his Master’s degree from California State University, Fullerton under Dr. Ken Ravizza. Over 40 years, he has coached Olympic athletes, NFL teams, PGA Tour professionals, and thousands of youth athletes across 35+ sports. His mental performance coaches are trained by him personally.
Research supports what our coaches do: a 2024 meta-analysis published in Sports Medicine (Röthlin et al.) found that psychological skills training, including self-talk, imagery, goal setting, and attentional strategies, produced a significant moderate effect on athletic performance (effect size of 0.83) across 111 studies with competitive athletes.
Every coach on our team is certified, experienced with young athletes and families, and matched to your child based on sport, age, and mental game challenges. Virtual sessions via Zoom make it easy. You have no busy commute and no scheduling headaches. Your child can meet with a world-class mental coach from your living room.
What Parents Say About Our Coaching
“The sessions have been so helpful. Dawson has been playing really well and more importantly feeling great about it all.”*
~Kecia Muller, Lacrosse Parent
“Most importantly, in just a few session the mental coaching has already helped her and that is what really matters!”*
~Reena Kelly, Gymnastics mom
“I wanted to say that your program is one of the contributing factors that has helped Michelle improve her hitting. Last week she had the most relaxed, confident games at bat ever! The mental exercises have started to make things click. The mental program is something she can practice in other facets of life. I am pleased that we decided to invest in your program: the results are showing.”*
~Jim Ellis, Michelle’s Father
Our Certified Mental Performance Coaches
Peak Performance Sports’ certified mental performance coaches are personally trained by Dr. Cohn himself.
About Jaclyn Ellis, M.S., MGCP
Jaclyn Ellis, M.S., MGCP, is a mental performance coach for Peak Performance Sports. She earned a Master’s degree from Illinois State University. Her passion is working with athletes, coaches and parents to enhance both performance and enjoyment of sports.
She has a background in competitive sports including soccer, volleyball and tennis. She also performed in advanced show choirs for many years. Additionally, she was a competitive youth head soccer coach in Bloomington, IL.
About Lane Schwatz, M.S., MGCP
Lane Schwarz is a mental performance coach with a Master of Science in Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology from Minnesota State University, Mankato, where he carried a perfect 4.0 GPA. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Allied Health Science from Luther College, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude with a 3.88 GPA.
Lane is working toward earning his Certified Mental Performance Coach (CMPC) designation through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) and is a certified Mental Game Coaching Professional (MGCP) trained directly by Dr. Patrick Cohn of Peak Performance Sports, LLC.
About Carolyne Lawley, M.S., MGCP
Carolyne is a mental performance coach for Peak Performance Sports. She earned a Master’s degree in Sport and Exercise Psychology from the University of North Texas. She played collegiate basketball and was also a competitive track and field athlete in high school. Following college, she continued her athletic career by playing two years of professional basketball in Europe.
Carolyne has coached basketball and track at both the youth and high school levels. She is currently completing the requirements to become a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) through AASP, as well as a Mental Game Coaching Professional (MGCP) with Peak Performance Sports, LLC.
Complimentary 15-Minute Online Coaching Session
Ready to Help Your Athlete Compete With Confidence?
The mental game is often the difference between athletes who performs their best under pressure and ones who holds back. Book a free 15-minute introductory session today with one of our coaches. Tell us your child’s sport we’ll send you the programs…
Available worldwide · No travel required · No commitment · Zoom · FaceTime · Phone
You can schedule your free session today!
Frequently Asked Questions
How old does my child need to be to benefit from mental coaching?
We work with young athletes as young as 12 years old through college age. The sessions and language are always adapted to your child’s age and maturity level. Many parents are surprised at how quickly even young athletes respond to simple mental skills training.
How is this different from seeing a therapist or counselor?
Mental performance coaching is not therapy. We don’t treat mental health conditions — we teach mental skills. Think of it like working with a pitching coach, but for the mind. We focus on confidence, focus, composure, and consistency in competition. If a child needs clinical support, we will let you know.
My child seems fine emotionally. Do they really need this?
Many of our best results come from athletes who are performing well but want to take it to the next level. You don’t have to be in crisis to benefit. Mental coaching is a proactive investment — like strength training for the brain. The earlier athletes build these skills, the bigger the advantage.
How does virtual coaching work? Will it be as effective as in-person?
Sessions are conducted via Zoom and are just as effective as in-person coaching. Our mental coaches have worked with athletes all over the world this way for years. Your child can join from home, a hotel room, or anywhere with an internet connection.
What if my child is resistant or skeptical?
This is very common. Most kids come in a little guarded and warm up quickly once they realize the sessions are conversational, not lecture-based. Our coaches are experienced at building rapport with young athletes. Parents are often amazed at how engaged their child becomes by session two. Book a free intro call as we know exactly how to handle this.
How many sessions will my child need and the cost?
Most athletes start with a four- or six-session program, which includes the AMAP assessment, a mental game plan, and four weekly coaching sessions. Some athletes continue beyond that to deepen their skills. We’ll give you an honest recommendation after the first session. Mental performance coaching starts at $700 for the first 6 sessions and $600 for each additional set of 6 sessions (for young athletes).
Will I as a parent be involved in the sessions?
Yes. Parent involvement is a key part of our approach. You’ll learn what to say and what not to say before and after competitions, four key questions to ask after games, and how to support your athlete without adding pressure. Many parents tell us the coaching changes how they show up at games just as much as it changes their child.
How do I get started?
Call us at 407-909-1700 fill out the contact form on this page. We’ll schedule your free 15-minute consultation so you can ask questions, share what your child is struggling with, and find out if our program is the right fit.
Get sport psychology coaching in south Florida, Ft. Lauderdale, or Miami and Dade country.
Disclaimer
*Testimonials found on this site are examples of what we have done for other clients, and what some of our clients have said about us. However, we cannot guarantee the results in any case. Your results may vary and every situation is different. No compensation was provided for these testimonials.