10 Competition-Week Practice Tips for Coaches to Build Confident Athletes

Next Steps:If you want help overcoming mental blocks, pushing past fear and anxiety, and building real confidence, make sure to:Subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode. – get an email when new episodes drop plus extra tips & tools. If your athlete is struggling with a mental block, fear, or competition anxiety and you want real answers and a plan:👉Book a no-cost session with us today!SummaryCompetition season brings pressure, emotions, and expectations—for athletes and coaches. In this episode of the Mind Over Mental Block Podcast, Mandy Patterson speaks directly to cheer and gymnastics coaches about how to prepare athletes for competition in a way that builds confidence, trust, and resilience instead of fear and overwhelm.These 10 coaching strategies focus on mindset, communication, and environment—what truly helps athletes perform their best when it matters most. This episode is perfect when you’re in the gym every day preparing for a big competition coming. You will learn practical, grounded guidance to help you lead with clarity, confidence, and impact that benefits your athletes far beyond the mat.TakeawaysMental blocks are common in athletes and can be overcome.Coaches play a crucial role in athlete development beyond just skills.Limiting last-minute changes helps athletes build trust and confidence.The language and emotions of coaches significantly impact athletes' performance.Mimicking competition conditions in practice prepares athletes mentally.Setting goals with athletes fosters ownership and reduces pressure.Focusing on controllables helps athletes feel empowered and confident.Practices can be approached functionally to encourage learning and growth.Resetting rather than fixing during warm-ups reduces stress and anxiety.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Mental Performance Coaching00:57 The Role of Coaches in Athlete Development01:49 Preparing Athletes for Competition02:55 Building Trust and Confidence in Athletes05:42 The Importance of Language and Emotions07:58 Mimicking Competition Conditions09:30 Setting Goals and Defining Success13:33 Focusing on Controllables15:38 Approaching Practice Functionally19:27 Resetting Instead of Fixing22:24 The Importance of Enjoyment in CoachingKeywordsmental performance, coaching, athlete development, competition preparation, trust, confidence, language, emotions, goal setting, practice, reset, enjoyment