Book Private Basketball Lessons with Coach Shania

While I didn't play sports at the collegiate level, I stayed actively involved in recreational volleyball, swimming, and basketball throughout college. During high school, I struggled with self-doubt, which led to inconsistent performance. I often gave up too quickly, lacked the motivation to improve, and hesitated to seek help. However, everything changed after I graduated when I connected with a sports psychology coach. Through their guidance, I developed mental skills that not only enhanced my performance but also helped me foster a positive team culture within my recreation teams. Visualization and self-talk became my keep tools for success. Today, my goal is to instill that same confidence and mental resilience in high school athletes, so they can reach their full potential and pursue their dreams of playing college sports.

I help athletes elevate their performance by first instilling core values that align with who they are, like belief, perseverance, courage, and resilience. Without a deep belief in their ability to grow—through hard work, setbacks, losses, and plateaus—athletes can’t truly improve. Simply masking the issue is like applying a band-aid: it offers temporary relief but leaves lasting scars. To create lasting change, we must address the root cause of the challenge. While future hardships are inevitable, by confronting and overcoming the underlying issues, athletes will not only regain control but emerge stronger and more capable.

At the end of each session, I encourage athletes to reflect in their journal daily, focusing on the skills and techniques we discussed. I'll leave them with a thought-provoking question or challenge to work through until our next meeting. Each new sessions begins with a review of the previous session (briefly), discussing how they applied the skills throughout the week, and I always ask if there's anything specific they want to address. I avoid overly structured sessions, as I believe flexibility fosters a more natural and effective dialogue. Instead, I empower the athlete to guide the conversation (as this gives them a sense of autonomy), while I support them in navigating real-world scenarios and provide tailored techniques to enhance performance or address any challenges they may be facing.

My best coach was Coach Johnitta, my volleyball coach, whose unique background in the military shaped her coaching style. Her approach was a blend of tough love, motivation, and understanding. She didn't just focus on developing athletes' skills; she aimed to cultivate self-sufficiency and courage, pushing us to face our fears and continuously improve. At the time, her tough approach felt frustrating as a high school athlete, but now, I deeply appreciate how she held us to high standards, helping me become not just a better player, but a stronger individual.

Athletes and parents should know that as a mental performance coach, I approach each session with compassion and dedication. Each athlete has a unique story, and it is my goal to create sessions and a training program that fits their needs. I am dedicated to doing all that I can to help your athlete succeed, but will place an expectation in them that the work is not one sided, if they want results, they have to do the work, but I will be here to help.