In this episode, we cover…
(0:00) How sports shaped Lindsey’s mindset
(1:53) Anxiety and self-doubt are not unique: mental struggles are normal
(4:27) The mental side of competition
(7:02) Starting mental training early
(9:41) Lindsey’s breakthrough at age 16
(13:48) Adjusting to college sports & playing Division I
(20:03) Belief and visualization techniques
(26:41) Common athlete challenges
(31:59) The growing focus on mental training
Mental Performance Training for Young Athletes
In this episode with Athletes Untapped, we are joined by Lindsey Wilson out of Seattle, Washington. Former Division I basketball player at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, turned founder of Positive Performance, Lindsey takes us through her journey from basketball beginnings to mental coaching. For many young athletes, sports start out fun. They love learning new skills, competing, and being with their teammates. As pressure grows with age, expectations rise, playing time matters, and social media adds comparison. And suddenly, the mental side of sports becomes just as important as the physical side. Lindsey shares with us why mental performance training for young athletes is no longer optional. Athletes need these tools to manage their minds, just like they need drills to improve their game.
Why Mental Performance Training Matters
At the youth level of sports, physical development matters a lot, and Lindsey was clear about that. A 10-year-old basketball player absolutely needs drills, reps, and coaching. But she also emphasized that mental performance should not be overlooked in favor of physical development. The best coaches teach mental skills without even labeling it as such. They teach athletes how to: handle discomfort, recover after mistakes or losses, keep working when confidence is low, and compete under pressure. For parents and coaches, the goal is to combine both skills training and mental training so young athletes are prepared when sports become more competitive.
One of the Biggest Myths in Sports Psychology
A major misconception Lindsey sees in young athletes is that they think their struggles are unique. A player loses confidence after a bad performance and thinks they are the only one dealing with self-doubt. Another feels nervous before a game and assumes something is wrong with them. But Lindsey explained that this is one of the most important things athletes need to understand: Everyone experiences pressure, nerves, mistakes, and negative self-talk. This is exactly why mental training for athletes is so important. It helps athletes realize that what they are feeling is part of the human experience. They are not broken or weak; they simply need the tools and practice. She explained that one of the most powerful shifts athletes can make is learning how to replace harsh self-criticism with a more productive kind of calm. That does not mean lowering standards. It means learning that self-kindness does not make athletes weak.
How Athletes Should Handle Pressure and Anxiety in Games
When athletes ask how to stay calm during a big game, Lindsey compares this question to asking how to get in shape in the middle of a competition. The answer is that mental toughness is built before the big game. With this, there are still practical tools athletes can use during games. Lindsey mentioned strategies like breathing exercises, reset routines, mistake rituals, and having a specific plan after mistakes. Her advice is important because mistakes are guaranteed. No athlete gets through a season, a game, or even a practice without messing up. The question is not whether mistakes will happen, but whether the athlete has a plan for responding. That is where sports psychology comes into play: instead of hoping they bounce back, athletes can be trained to bounce back.
Lindsey’s Story: How Mental Training Changed Her Game
Lindsey’s passion for mental performance comes from first-hand experience. When she was 16, she was putting in all of the physical work to become a high-level basketball player. She was lifting weights, training hard, and putting in the time. But mentally, she was struggling; she worried constantly and felt inconsistent. Eventually, her mom found a coach who taught her mental performance training. Within three months, Lindsey felt like a different player. The tools were not overly complicated. They included things like: positive self-talk, breathing, visualization, goal setting, and learning how to see success before it happened. The tools from this coach changed everything. She went from being lightly recruited to becoming a highly recruited Division I athlete and eventually playing at Iowa State.
The College Transition: From Star Player to Starting Over
One of the hardest jumps in sports is going from playing in high school to being a college athlete. Many athletes go from being the best player on their team to barely seeing the floor. Lindsey knows this transition well, explaining that mental performance training helped her navigate injuries, setbacks, and the emotional challenges of less playing time. Mental skills do not prevent hard things from happening. They give athletes something to return to when hard things happen. Without these tools, athletes often pull back. They stop taking risks, and they settle. They convince themselves to stay comfortable. But the athletes who learn how to manage that self-doubt give themselves a real chance to grow at the next level. Talent alone is rarely enough.
The Power of Belief Work in Sports
One of the core ideas Lindsey teaches is belief work. Belief work is the daily process of convincing your brain that your goal is possible, even when your current results may not support it. Athletes often feel confident after a great performance, but lose belief after a bad one. If confidence depends only on results, it becomes unstable. Lindsey teaches athletes to use visualization, affirmations, and present-tense language to keep belief alive. For example, instead of saying: “I want to be a Division I basketball player,” an athlete might say: “I am a Division I basketball player.” This method helps train the mind to see the goal as possible, so the athlete continues to act in alignment with it.
A Practical Visualization Tip for Athletes
Lindsey talked to us about the powerful pregame routine of visualization. The purpose is to help athletes step into the identity of the player they are trying to become. For athletes struggling with confidence, the key question is this: Can you still see yourself as that athlete after a bad game? Can you still believe in your long-term goal after going 0-for-10? Can you still picture yourself succeeding when the evidence from that one day says otherwise? That is where real mental training happens: The best athletes do not just believe when things are going well. They work to protect their belief when things are not.
Final Takeaway: Why Mental Performance Training Should Start Early
Lindsey’s story and perspective reinforce that mental performance training should not be saved for elite athletes or after a bad game; it should start early. Athletes should learn from a young age how to manage nerves, recover from mistakes, build belief, and handle pressure. Parents should recognize that confidence, resilience, and emotional regulation are part of athletic development, too. In the end, the mental side of sports is not separate from performance; it is part of performance. And maybe even more importantly, it is part of what makes sports worth playing in the first place.
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