Mental performance training for soccer athletes
the mental game
The mental side is trainable.
At the club level, the gap between athletes is rarely technical. It is composure under pressure, recovery after a mistake, and the ability to perform at the same level on the day it counts. Those are trainable skills, and most young athletes are never taught them.
What this actually is
Structured mental performance work,
in a small peer group
Six to ten athletes meet by video every other week, same group each time. Sessions draw on established work in performance psychology and translate it into skills athletes rehearse between meetings, using situations from their own season. It runs as a therapy group clinically, and it functions like training.
What it is
- Structured mental performance and resilience training, grounded in performance psychology
- A closed peer group, so athletes build trust across the full curriculum
- Skills based, with something to apply in training and competition after every session
What it is not
- Not individual therapy, though some athletes do both
- Not a sign of weakness, and not a sign that something is wrong with your athlete
- Not a place they will be put on the spot or forced to share
Who your athlete will be with
I'm Kalli, a Graduate Counseling Intern at Holland Heart Therapy and a master's student in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at William & Mary. I just finished my NCAA eligibility as a Division I athlete at UConn and William & Mary.
I know what it is to warm up with your stomach in knots, to carry one mistake through the rest of a half, and to wonder who you are on the days the sport is not going well. Nobody handed me language for any of that while I was playing. Working out how to name it, and how to come back from it, is what led me into counseling.
What I want for the athletes in this group is simpler than it sounds. I want them to have words for what they are feeling, a few things that reliably help, and the experience of hearing another player say the exact thing they thought was theirs alone.
Kalli leads both groups under the supervision of Margeaux Groene, M.A., LPC, a Licensed Professional Counselor and Virginia Board-Approved Supervisor.
Which group fits your athlete
Younger players
Foundational mental skills, built early.
| Sessions | 6 sessions, 45 minutes each |
|---|---|
| Cadence | Every other week |
| Group | Closed group, same athletes each time |
| Size | 6 to 8 athletes |
| Format | Virtual, held over video |
| Starts | Soon, dates set once the group fills |
Teen players
Performance under pressure, and identity beyond the sport.
| Sessions | 7 sessions, 60 minutes each |
|---|---|
| Cadence | Every other week |
| Group | Closed group, same athletes each time |
| Size | 8 to 10 athletes |
| Format | Virtual, held over video |
| Starts | Soon, dates set once the group fills |
Groups are single gender whenever possible, based on interest and enrollment. A group begins once minimum enrollment is reached.
You already train your body for the sport.Let's train the mind that plays it.
Session by session
The curriculum
Groups are still forming, so the order can shift.
Confidence
Building durable self-talk and a stable base that does not depend on the last result.
Arousal regulation
Recognizing the body's stress response and using breath and routine to reach an optimal state before competition.
The reset
A repeatable routine for releasing a mistake within seconds rather than carrying it through the half.
Pressure and control
Separating what is controllable from what is not, and directing attention accordingly.
Thoughts and performance
How thinking drives feeling and action, and how to intervene at the point that matters.
Pre-performance routine
Assembling their own routine and mental toolkit to carry into training and competition.
A good fit if your athlete
- Competes below their training level on game day
- Carries mistakes rather than resetting
- Shows confidence that tracks the last result
- Holds themselves to a standard no coach set
Confidence and self-talk
Self-criticism, social comparison, and cognitive reframing under competitive conditions.
Performance anxiety
Managing physiological and cognitive anxiety across matches, tryouts, and the recruiting cycle.
Perfectionism and pressure
Shifting from outcome driven, fear based thinking toward a process focused orientation.
Resilience and recovery
Building the capacity to recover from a poor performance, a benching, or an injury without losing form.
Burnout and load management
The mental side of a heavy calendar, and why recovery is part of performance rather than the opposite of it.
Athletic identity
What happens when identity is fused with performance, and why that becomes a liability at the next level.
The individual plan
Goal setting that holds up, and a personal mental performance plan for the seasons ahead.
A good fit if your athlete
- Underperforms relative to their ability under pressure
- Is driven by perfectionism or fear of mistakes
- Is navigating ID camps, recruiting, or a step up in level
- Is carrying a training load alongside academic demands
Register your athlete's interest
Register your athlete's interest.
Nothing here commits you to anything. Tell us a little about your athlete and we will be in touch with the schedule once a group fills.
Just in case
A few things parents ask
Is this therapy?
Yes, in a specific sense. It is a skills based therapy group run through Holland Heart Therapy, which is why a parent or guardian signs consent before the first session. What it is not is individual therapy. If something comes up that would be better served one to one, we will tell you and help you find the right support.
Does my athlete have to be struggling to join?
No. Plenty of athletes join because they want an edge, not because anything is wrong. You do not need a reason that sounds serious enough.
What if my athlete is quiet or does not want to talk?
Sharing is invited, never required. Most start talking on their own once they hear another player describe the exact thing they thought only happened to them.
Do I need to be there?
No. Your athlete needs a device, headphones, and somewhere reasonably private. Players speak more freely when a parent is not listening, so we ask that you give them the room. If something comes up that you should know about, you will hear from us.
When does it start?
Soon. We are gathering interest first so the schedule can be built around the soccer and school calendar instead of against it. Once a group has enough athletes you will get the dates, times, and a link to the secure video platform.