Episode 30 - Mental Performance During Championship Season with Mental Performance Consultant Jelle Kooijman

From The First Chair Podcast

In this episode, Frank & Thierry welcome back Mental Performance Coach Jelle Kooijman to discuss lessons learned from the Maverick Mental Training Program, self-talk and mental performance during championship season. (0:45) - Jelle is our first recurring guest that was also on Episode 22 on Mental Training (0:53) - How is the Maverick Mental Training Program going? (1:18) - Why is self talk such a popular mental skill with the athletes? (2:00) - What is the difference between planned self-talk and automatic self talk? (5:33) - Myth or reality: Sports are 90% mental? (9:00) - Myth or reality: Mental preparation is for mentally weak athletes? (10:21) - Myth or reality: Mental preparation is only for elite athletes? (11:44) - Myth or reality: Mental training requires long hours of training to see positive effects? (13:32) - Myth or reality: All mental skills work equally well for all athletes? (14:31) - Myth or reality: The core of mental preparation is visualization et positive thinking? (15:40) - Myth or reality: Mental training fosters the athlete's dependency towards the mental performance consultant? (18:34) - What are some key takeaways from the first year of the MMTP? (23:20) - How many times did Jelle work with each HP athlete in the club? (23:48) - What adjustments would Coach Kooijman make for next season with the MMTP? (26:16) - What can coaches do to ensure athletes keep using their newly acquired mental skills such as visualization and self-talk? (29:04) - How should a coach integrate mental training in a seasonal plan? (32:48) - How could mental training be approached in the off season? (37:55) - What should an athlete do in the week prior to a big event like a provincial or national championship? (43:40) - What should a coach do in the week prior to a big event like a provincial or national championship? (49:50) - What should an athlete and a coach do in the 24 hours prior to a big event like a provincial or national championship? (54:29) - What should an athlete and a coach do in the moments just before a big match at a provincial or national championship? (57:19) - What should coaches not do in the moments just before a big match at a provincial or national championship? (60:12) - What are some dos and don'ts after a critical match at a provincial or national championship?