The Sports Psychology Podcast

By Dr. Patrick J. Cohn

What's The Sports Psychology Podcast about?

A sports psychology, mental toughness, and mental training radio show that seeks to help athletes, coaches and sports parents reach peak performance. Learn the latest mental training strategies to identify ineffective mindsets, improve sports confidence, and boost your performance. Get free mental game tips from sports psychology expert Dr. Patrick Cohn.

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The Sports Psychology Podcast episodes:

04.14.2024
Is Your Athlete Playing Safe or Just Appear Lazy?
Welcome to the Sports Psychology Podcast by Dr. Patrick Coach of Peak Performance Sports. Dr. Cohn and Georgia Miller, CMPC discuss the challenges sports parents face with young athletes and how to make sports a better experience. Learn how to...
08.10.2023
Too Many Lessons or Just Anxious?
In this episode, Dr. Cohn answers a question from a reader about an athlete going backwards deispite many lessons. Why would athletes go backwards? Here's the question of the week: RICK: "My daughter is a 16-year-old softball pitcher & volleyball....
07.20.2023
Why Ball Players Have Yips in Game Situations
In this episode, Dr. Cohn answers a question from a reader about why ball players only have the yips in game situations. It often each to throw bull pens, but in game situations is when the yips can show up....
06.29.2023
How to Explain Mental Training to Teens
In this episode, Dr. Cohn answers a question from a parent about how to introduce mental training to young athletes who are not familiar with it. Here's the question of the week: JOY: "I was hoping to find some kind...
06.08.2023
Avoid Making Comparisons to Other Competitors
In this episode, Dr. Cohn answers a question from a reader about how to stop making comparisons to others atheltes and paying too much attention to their score as this can hurt confidence and lead to self-intimidation. Here's the question...
05.18.2023
Annoying Sports Parents Who Yell from the Sideline
In this episode, Dr. Cohn answers a question from a reader about how sports parents can be annoying to other parents watching their kids play. Here's the question of the week: COACH LESLIE: "What do you do when you have...
04.27.2023
How to Manage Intensity Before You Compete.
In this episode, Dr. Cohn answers a question from a reader about how to manage your intensity prior to competition. Here's the question of the week: DARCY: "I sometimes feel as if I’m going through the motions before games and...
04.06.2023
How Mental Skills Transfer to Life Skills
In this episode, Dr. Cohn answers a question from a reader about how learning mental skills can transfer to life. Here's the question of the week: HARRY: "My daughter has “mental game” struggles in her lacrosse that could carry with...
03.16.2023
Should You Always be in the Flow?
In this episode, Dr. Cohn answers a question from a reader playing in the flow all the time. Here's the question of the week: WILLIAM: "I think to play well, I have to be in flow. But I can't seem...
02.23.2023
Managing Anxiety and Fear Before Matches
In this episode, Dr. Cohn answers a question from a reader about how to manage anxiety and fear prior to playing a match. Here's the question of the week: LISA: "I am always so anxious and full of fear before...
02.02.2023
Why Tell Someone They Have the Yips?
In this episode, Dr. Cohn answers a question from a reader about telling others they might have the yips? It's not a dirty five letter word. JOHN: "Why tell someone they have the yips? Doesn’t this make things worse when...
11.27.2022
How to Visualize the Perfect Game
Should you visualize the perfect hockey game before you play? Athlete are told to visualize, but are they doing it the wrong way? In this hockey psychology podcast, you learn some tips to visualize your hockey performance. Peak Performance Sports,...
11.19.2022
Focus on Making Plays to Have Better Hockey Statistics
All hockey players want to have good statistics and score points, right? But should you focus on your stats when you play a game? In this episode, you learn what to focus on during the game to have good statistics....
11.06.2022
Do You Have Fragile Confidence Early in the Game? Try This
Does the first shift of the game set your mindset for the rest of the game? Too many players we work with allow the first shift to dictate their mindset for the game. If they make a couple mistakes in...
10.30.2022
How to Play Faster without More Training
Are you playing too slow on the ice? Hockey is fast paced and can cause indecision for players. When you second-guess yourself on the ice, this can look like you are playing slow. In this episode, hockey players learn how...
10.02.2022
Fear of Meeting Others' Expectations and Pressure
In this sports psychology podcast, Dr. Cohn helps an athlete who thinks he is not playing to the best of his abilities and battling expectations from people around him. Here is the question, Dr. Cohn answers in this episode: OSCAR:...
09.11.2022
How to Take Risks in Basketball and Not Play Safe
In this sports psychology podcast, Dr. Cohn helps parents understand and support his daughter who is struggling to play more aggressively and offensively during competitions. Here is the question Dr. Cohn answers in this episode: Sports Parent, DAVID: "My freshman...
08.21.2022
Helping Soccer Players Who Are Self-Critical
In this sports psychology podcast, Dr. Cohn helps parents on how to address the self-critical mindset of their daughter when receiving feedback from her coach. Here is the question, Dr. Cohn answers in this episode: Sports Parent: EVAN: "My daughter...
07.31.2022
Overcoming Pressure and Anxiety in Matches
In this sports psychology podcast, Dr. Cohn helps a tennis player who loses against opponents who he thinks he can beat easily, Dr. Cohn answers in this episode: ROGER: "I have anxiety, pressure before my matches. I lost to a...
07.10.2022
What Does it Mean to Give Full Effort in Sports?
In this sports psychology podcast, Dr. Cohn helps parents understand a young athlete who has fragile confidence. Here is the question Dr. Cohn answers in this episode: Sports Parent: NICK: "I feel that some young athletes think they are "trying...
06.19.2022
When Soccer Players Want to Quit
In this sports psychology podcast, Dr. Cohn helps a player who wants to quit his game because he thinks he is not the best on the team, Dr. Cohn answers in this episode: Duane: "I’m playing soccer and I’m thinking...
05.29.2022
Managing Your Emotions When Adversity Hits
In this sports psychology podcast, Dr. Cohn helps a player who is struggling to compose himself during difficult times of the game. Here is the question, Dr. Cohn answers from Zed who had to say this about his game: ...
05.07.2022
The Importance of Team Communication
In this sports psychology podcast, Dr. Cohn helps a soccer player understand the importance of team communication to achieve success. In addition, he highlights the mindset of moving on from past mistakes and staying in the moment of the game....
04.17.2022
How to Keep Shooting After Missing
In this sports psychology podcast, Dr. Cohn helps a player on how to stay confident in shooting after a couple of misses during the game, Dr. Cohn answers a question from Sam who had to say this about his game....
02.26.2022
When Your Athletes Play Too Safe in Sports
In this sports psychology podcast, Dr. Cohn helps parents understand a young athlete who has fragile confidence. Here is the question, Dr. Cohn answers in this episode: Sports Parent: "My son plays for a top soccer team in the state....
01.29.2022
How Coach Val Whiting Helps Sports Parents
In this week's podcast, Dr. Cohn interviews a former WNBA player, Coach Val Whiting. She was part of two NCAA Championship and she works with U Sports and serves in the National Advisory Board for the Positive Coaching Alliance. Dr....
11.15.2021
The Right Reasons for Every Athlete to Stay in Their Game
In this sports psychology podcast, Dr. Cohn helps parents understand when their athletes should quit sports. Here is the question, Dr. Cohn answers in this episode: BETH: I am struggling to figure out if I should quit basketball. I get...
11.01.2021
Coach: Support Your Athlete's Mental Game
In this sports psychology podcast, Dr. Cohn explains how to coacher can better support athlete's mental game. Here is the question, Dr. Cohn answers in this episode: LEO: I’m now a coach but if I had the support of a...
10.18.2021
How to Improve Decision Making when Competing
In this sports psychology podcast, Dr. Cohn helps an athlete by explaining how to build composure and confidence and take his shots when the opportunity arrives. Here is the question, Dr. Cohn answers in this episode: MURRAY: I feel my...
10.04.2021
What Athletes Must Do During Post Games
In this sports psychology podcast, Dr. Cohn helps an athlete on knowing what to do in post games to improve confidence. Here is the question, Dr. Cohn answers in this episode: JACK: Do you have any tips or a program...
09.27.2021
How to Guide Young and Intense Athletes
In this sports psychology podcast, Dr. Cohn helps parents understand proper guidance for a young and intense athlete in the right manner. Here is the question, Dr. Cohn answers in this episode: Missy: I have a 13-year-old daughter, Soccer is...
09.18.2021
How to Manage the Toughest Moments of Elite Competitions
In this sports psychology podcast, Dr. Patrick Cohn interviews a former swimmer and now a mental advocate Kimberly Karducci. They discuss mental health issues and how to best manage the toughest moments of elite competitions. They also talked about her...
09.13.2021
Parents: When Your Athletes What to Quit Sports
In this sports psychology podcast, Dr. Cohn helps parents understand when their athletes should quit sports. Here is the question, Dr. Cohn answers in this episode: JESSICA: My son was so excited for football and ready to play. But he...
08.30.2021
Helping Athletes Manage High Expectations
In this sports psychology video, Dr. Cohn helps athletes improve their mental game for sports. Learn how to get your mindset right when you compete so you can perform your best. In this podcast, you learn about how athletes place...
08.01.2021
Social Approval and Social Media for Athletes
In this sports psychology podcast, Dr. Patrick Cohn interviews former Team Canada Junior National Snowboarder. They discuss social approval for athletes in today's world of social media. How expectations from others and social media can impact athletes' mindset and performance....
04.14.2021
Approaches to Mental Coaching with Dr. Bob Winters
In this week's podcast, Dr. Cohn interviews long-time friend, Dr. Bob Winters, an internationally renowned mental coach, Author and professional speaker. Known as “Dr. Bob”, he helps world-class athletes, collegiate players and teams, juniors, and individuals attain confidence and achieve...
04.08.2021
The Coaching Zone & Leadership with Dr. John Yeager
In this week's podcast, Dr. Cohn interviews Dr. John Yeager about how coaches can improve team dynamics by understanding how to improve atheltes' Confidence, Hope, Optimism, and Team resilience. Dr. Yeager abd Dr. Cohn discuss about how athletes can build...
01.31.2021
How Mental Training Will Get You to Your Next Level of Play
Are you or your athletes struggling to get to the next level of play? Many times, an athletes' mental game is preventing them from outpacing other players with equal physical abilities. In this week's podcast, Dr. Cohn speaks with Brenda...
01.24.2021
Why Athletes Worry too Much About What Others Think
Do you or your athletes tend to worry too much about what others think of your performance? As mental game experts, we know that athletes often get preoccupied with what we have termed "outcome thinking," and tend to play too...
01.10.2021
Achieve Proactive Confidence for a Healthy Life Balance
Are you an athlete who struggles to maintain a healthy balance between your daily life and your role as an athlete? Many athletes feel a lot of pressure to reach high achievements in their sport and, as a result, lack...
01.03.2021
Don't Let Adversity Affect Your Game
Are you an athlete who struggles with fear of failure in competition? Many athletes spend too much time dwelling on their mistakes, feeling that past mistakes define their future play. When too much pressure is placed on winning, rather than...
11.01.2020
Improve Your Body Language
Do you struggle with negative body language when you compete? Often times there are certain triggers that lead to your negative body language. Athletes need to be aware of what they are doing to exhibit this negative body language. You...
08.30.2020
Helping Athletes Take Practice Skills to Competition Consistently
Do you look like a star in practice, but choke up in competition? Does your performance feel tight, controlled, or lack of freedom when you compete? Many hard-working athletes who get lots of confidence from practice get in their own...
08.21.2020
Be All In With Christie Pearce Rampone and Dr. Kristine Keane
Christie Pearce Rampone is a two-time Women’s World Cup champion and eight-year captain of the US Women’s National Soccer Team. She’s co-authored a new book with neuropsychologist and fellow sports mom Dr. Kristine Keane… BE ALL IN: Raising Kids for...
08.16.2020
Cope with Pregame Anxiety for Athletes
Do you ever get butterflies in your stomach before you compete called pregame jitters? Do you get really nervous before the start of a big match or game and can’t relax after the game starts? Most athletes have felt the...
07.26.2020
Perfectionist Athletes Who are Highly Critical Post Competition
Do you or your athletes only focus on mistakes after competition? Do you criticize your performance instead of learn from it? Or do you disqualify the positive? Perfectionist athletes can be extremely hard on themselves after they compete, which hurts their confidence. These athletes...
07.12.2020
Perfectionist Athletes Who Are Highly Judgemental
One of the qualities of perfectionist athletes is the fact that they judge their performance extremely harshly. They are very self-critical. Very high level perfectionists want their performance to look good and feel good in order to get the desired...
06.28.2020
How to Overcome Lack of Trust in Skills
One of the biggest challenges for perfectionists is the lack of trust in their skills… Lack of trust in skills is the reason perfectionists tend to under perform in competition–compared to practice. Perfectionism leads to: –Over thinking –Stuck in a practice mindset...
06.14.2020
How to Play for Yourself During Competition
Perfectionist athletes often worry too much about what others (coaches, teammates, parents) think about their performance. We call this social approval fears in our work. This is not only a huge distraction for athletes, but also a source of pressure to perform...
06.09.2020
Can Athletes Use Mindfulness to Improve Focus?
Dr. Patrick Cohn interviews Dr. Joe Havlick on the use of mindfulness to help athletes and performers succeed. Joe has a Ph.D. in Sport Psychology and works with performers and athletes of many ages, sports, and careers. Joe has a...

What's The Sports Psychology Podcast about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

The Sports Psychology Podcast episodes:

Is Your Athlete Playing Safe or Just Appear Lazy?

Too Many Lessons or Just Anxious?

Why Ball Players Have Yips in Game Situations

How to Explain Mental Training to Teens

Avoid Making Comparisons to Other Competitors

Annoying Sports Parents Who Yell from the Sideline

How to Manage Intensity Before You Compete.

How Mental Skills Transfer to Life Skills

Should You Always be in the Flow?

Managing Anxiety and Fear Before Matches

Why Tell Someone They Have the Yips?

How to Visualize the Perfect Game

Focus on Making Plays to Have Better Hockey Statistics

Do You Have Fragile Confidence Early in the Game? Try This

How to Play Faster without More Training

Fear of Meeting Others' Expectations and Pressure

How to Take Risks in Basketball and Not Play Safe

Helping Soccer Players Who Are Self-Critical

Overcoming Pressure and Anxiety in Matches

What Does it Mean to Give Full Effort in Sports?

When Soccer Players Want to Quit

Managing Your Emotions When Adversity Hits

The Importance of Team Communication

How to Keep Shooting After Missing

When Your Athletes Play Too Safe in Sports

How Coach Val Whiting Helps Sports Parents

The Right Reasons for Every Athlete to Stay in Their Game

Coach: Support Your Athlete's Mental Game

How to Improve Decision Making when Competing

What Athletes Must Do During Post Games

How to Guide Young and Intense Athletes

How to Manage the Toughest Moments of Elite Competitions

Parents: When Your Athletes What to Quit Sports

Helping Athletes Manage High Expectations

Social Approval and Social Media for Athletes

Approaches to Mental Coaching with Dr. Bob Winters

The Coaching Zone & Leadership with Dr. John Yeager

How Mental Training Will Get You to Your Next Level of Play

Why Athletes Worry too Much About What Others Think

Achieve Proactive Confidence for a Healthy Life Balance

Don't Let Adversity Affect Your Game

Improve Your Body Language

Helping Athletes Take Practice Skills to Competition Consistently

Be All In With Christie Pearce Rampone and Dr. Kristine Keane

Cope with Pregame Anxiety for Athletes

Perfectionist Athletes Who are Highly Critical Post Competition

Perfectionist Athletes Who Are Highly Judgemental

How to Overcome Lack of Trust in Skills

How to Play for Yourself During Competition

Can Athletes Use Mindfulness to Improve Focus?