Rings of Growth Mental Performance

FOCUS FRIDAY:

The Weekend Challenge That Will Change Your Athlete's Game

This weekend, thousands of athletes will compete in games, tournaments, and matches.

Most will hope their focus "just happens."

But some will have a secret weapon: The One-Thing Focus technique.

Here's your weekend challenge for your athlete:

THE ONE-THING WEEKEND CHALLENGE:

Before each play, set, or possession this weekend, have your athlete ask themselves: "What's my ONE thing right now?"

Examples by sport:

Basketball: "Follow through on my shot"
Soccer: "First touch with my left foot"
Volleyball: "Watch the ball into my hands"
Football: "Keep my head up through the tackle"
Baseball: "See the ball hit the bat"

NOT multiple things. Just ONE clear, specific focus point.

WHY THIS WORKS:

Your brain can only truly focus on one thing at a time. When athletes try to focus on their technique AND the score AND what coach said AND not messing up... they end up focused on nothing.

The One Thing gives their attention a target instead of letting it scatter.

HOW TO SUPPORT THIS AS A PARENT:

BEFORE THE GAME:

"What's going to be your One Thing today?"

DURING THE GAME:

Just watch and support. Don't coach from the sidelines.

AFTER THE GAME:

"How did the One Thing focus feel out there?"

THE GOAL:

This isn't about perfect performance. It's about building the mental skill of directed attention.

Some plays they'll remember their One Thing. Some plays they won't. That's normal and part of learning.

Celebrate the effort to use mental skills, not just the results.

PARENTS: Will you try this challenge with your athlete this weekend?

Comment below with:

1. What sport your athlete plays
2. What their "One Thing" will be
3. How it goes after this weekend!

Let's build a community of mentally strong young athletes together.

WHY YOUR ATHLETE LOSES FOCUS (And It's Not What You Think)

I just had a conversation with a sports parent that broke my heart:

"My daughter is amazing in practice. Confident, skilled, making every shot. But in games, it's like she becomes a different player. She gets distracted, makes mental mistakes, and looks overwhelmed. What's wrong with her?"

Here's what I told her: NOTHING is wrong with your daughter.

The problem isn't your athlete. The problem is that we expect kids to naturally have elite focus without ever teaching them how to focus.

Think about it: We wouldn't expect a child to drive a car without lessons. We wouldn't expect them to do algebra without learning math basics. But somehow we expect them to perform under pressure with crowds, scoreboards, and stakes... without any mental training.

THE SCIENCE BEHIND FOCUS CHALLENGES:

Your athlete's brain has two modes:

FOCUSED MODE: The prefrontal cortex (CEO brain) is in charge
- Filters out distractions
- Stays locked on what matters
- Performs under pressure

SCATTERED MODE: The limbic system (emotional brain) takes over
- Notices everything (crowd, score, coach's reaction)
- Gets overwhelmed by stimulation
- Chokes when it counts

Here's the good news: Focus is 100% trainable. Just like we train muscles, we can train attention.

THE FOCUS RING TEACHES THREE KEY SKILLS:

1. THE ONE-THING FOCUS: Instead of trying to focus on everything, athletes learn to pick one specific target for each play.

2. THE 30-SECOND RESET: When focus gets scattered (and it will), athletes have a system to get back quickly.

3. PRESSURE FILTERING: Learning to notice pressure without being controlled by it.

WHAT YOU CAN DO AS A PARENT:

❌ Don't say: "Just focus" or "Stop getting distracted"
✅ Do say: "What's your one thing for this play?"

❌ Don't criticize mental mistakes in the car ride home
✅ Do ask: "How did your focus feel out there?"

❌ Don't expect perfect concentration
✅ Do celebrate when they refocus quickly after mistakes

Remember: Elite athletes aren't naturally focused. They've practiced focus skills until they became automatic.

Your athlete can learn these skills too. It just takes the right tools and practice.

What questions do you have about helping your athlete develop better focus? I'm here to help.

FOCUS FRIDAY: THE MIRROR EXERCISE THAT BUILDS MENTAL STRENGTH

Want to help your athlete develop self-awareness?

Teach them the Mirror Exercise.

It's simple but powerful:

Before practice or games, have them look in the mirror and honestly assess:

Their emotional state (nervous, excited, confident, worried)
Their energy level (tired, pumped, distracted, focused)
What they need (calm down, get energized, focus up)

Then help them give themselves what they need.
This isn't about fake positivity. It's about honest self-awareness that leads to better performance.

WHY IT WORKS:

Athletes learn to recognize their mental state
They develop tools to manage their emotions
They take ownership of their mental preparation
They build confidence through self-knowledge

THE PARENT'S ROLE:
Don't judge what they discover. Support their honesty. Help them problem-solve what they need.

Example conversation:

Athlete: I'm really nervous
Parent: Thanks for being honest. What usually helps when you feel nervous?

The goal isn't to eliminate nerves. It's to build awareness and coping skills.
Mental strength comes from self-knowledge, not self-deception.

How do you help your athlete prepare mentally for competition?

TRANSFORMATION THURSDAY: Mental Performance coaching changed everything

From Parent of Athlete:

"We are so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with Coach Bryan over the past few years. He brought not only incredible knowledge and skill as a strength coach, but also a deep understanding of the mental side of competing at a high level. Our high school son, a competitive volleyball player, had specific goals both physically and mentally. Thanks to Coach Bryan, he made meaningful progress in both areas.

Coach Bryan taught our son how to build strength in a smart way that also emphasized the importance of stretching and mobility to help our son develop sustainable habits (that he’s still using as he continues his workouts on his own. But perhaps even more importantly, Coach Bryan helped him overcome some mental blocks that were holding him back on the court, helping him regain confidence, and reset in high-pressure moments.

We were especially touched by how invested Coach Bryan became (and still is) not only in our son’s progress, but in his journey as an athlete and person. He came to several of his volleyball matches (even after we stopped formally working with him), offered encouragement and perspective, and was a steady, supportive presence throughout multiple seasons. We now consider Coach Bryan a friend. His impact has been tremendous, and we truly couldn’t be more grateful. Any athlete would be lucky to work with him. "

WISDOM WEDNESDAY: THE MENTAL TRAINING MYTH THAT'S HURTING ATHLETES

MYTH: Mental training is for athletes who can't handle pressure.

This myth keeps athletes from getting the tools they need to thrive.

Here's the truth: Mental training isn't for weak athletes. It's for smart athletes.
You wouldn't send an athlete to compete without physical training. Why would you send them without mental training?

The athletes who seek mental performance training are usually:

Already physically gifted
Highly motivated
Wanting to maximize their potential
Smart enough to know that sports are 90% mental at higher levels

The Awareness Ring isn't about 'fixing' something broken. It's about building something stronger.

When athletes learn to notice their thoughts, understand their emotions, and manage their mental state, they don't just perform better, they enjoy sports more.
They become leaders. They handle setbacks with resilience. They show up as their best selves consistently.

Mental training isn't a last resort. It's a competitive advantage.
Let's change the conversation. Mental skills are performance skills.
What questions do you have about mental training for young athletes?