Brain In The Game Sport Mind Coaching Podcast

High performance has no shortcut. There is no single tactic, hack, or 'one thing' that guarantees elite results. If you’re chasing a quick fix, you may be weakening the very platform you’re trying to strengthen. In Brain in the Game Episode 106, Dave Diggle unpacks why the search for a silver bullet is one of the most common traps in sport and leadership. When pressure rises, uncertainty increases...

Adapting when the goalposts suddenly move in high-performance sport (and life) In Episode 105, we explore what happens when a well-designed long-term plan is derailed by sudden external pressure, and how athletes, coaches, and support can respond in a constructive way. We break down: How teams thrive when identity, communication, and process are aligned Why short-term panic destroys...

How Modern Sports Management Really Works for Young Athletes In this episode of Brain in the Game, Dave Diggle sits down with Kym Cheeseman from Athlete Brand Academy to unpack the real business behind modern sport – and why young athletes and their parents need to understand it long before contracts, sponsorships or media opportunities arrive. Whether your athlete is in a pathways, collegiate or...

The One Mistake Almost Every Sports Parent Makes In this powerful episode of Brain in the Game , we dig into one of the most emotionally charged dynamics in sport: the relationship between parents, coaches, and athletes – and the one mistake almost every parent makes, often without realising it. As the season winds down and pressure spikes, friction builds. Parents want the best for their child. C...

This episode of Brain in the Game is a little different. It’s personal.  In this episode I share a story from a time when I worked in high-risk, high-pressure environments where failure wasn’t an option, and the valuable lessons I learned and carried with me throughout my career that could help you too. I also detail two mental frameworks to help you stay calm, focused, and ready to perf...

Performance anxiety is not a sign of weakness. It’s a cycle. And you can break it. In this episode of Brain in the Game, we go deep into the Performance Anxiety Cycle , the mental loop that can sabotage your game day execution if you don’t know how to manage it. We discuss: Why anxiety is NOT a weakness  and how every elite athlete faces it The 8 phases of performance anxiety and ho...

Collaboration – The Secret Ingredient to Consistent High Performance In this milestone 100th episode of Brain in the Game , we dive deep into the essential but often overlooked skill of collaboration and how it impacts elite performance. In this episode we discuss: Mapping Your Entourage: 
Discover how to identify the key people in your support network and understand their roles, frequency, and im...

Navigating Roles and Expectations During the Olympics: Parent, Coach, Athlete As the 2024 Paris Olympics approach, the crucial question arises: "What's my role?" Athletes, coaches, and parents alike grapple with how to best support each other during this pivotal time. In this episode, we dive into the essential roles and strategies for successful preparation and performance.  Prepar...

It’s a real pleasure to have Pete Steinberg join us on this episode of Brain in the Game, where we have a lively and varied discussion on the universal principles of leadership. From the field to the boardroom, we delve into the parallels between leadership in sports and business. Pete, with his extensive background as head coach of the USA Women’s Rugby Team leading them to two Rugby World Cups,...

"It's such a fine balance in creating the right technical, physical, and mentally prepared athlete to perform." In this episode of Brain in the Game, we explore the fine balance between control and collaboration in coaching, and how integrating mental performance strategies can revolutionise athlete development. We discuss: Integration of Mental Performance Professionals:  the challenges and...

In the latest episode of Brain in the Game we dissect the critical differences between confidence and self-belief. This episode is a little more personal than usual, and my hope is that it will reshape the way you see pressure and building self-belief in your performance. Confidence vs Self-Belief: Learn how external factors shape our confidence while self-belief is internally driven, both provide...

Navigating High-Pressure Situations Competition pressure can have a huge impact on your ability to perform in those big moments.  Learning how to perform and what to trust can make all the difference. In episode 95 of Brain in the Game, we look at how to push through the uncomfortable to perform when it counts.  We talk about: Think of your performance as a railway track. The better you...

In Episode 94 we explore the crucial ingredients that matter the most to every athlete when facing high-pressure situations and performing your best. We talk about:  ✅ The 3 essential ingredients for success under pressure: Process, Mental Toughness, and Mental Resilience.  ✅ How to build a solid blueprint for executing skills flawlessly, even when the stakes are high.  ✅ Develop...

T he role of mental conditioning in helping athletes develop the tools they need to combat feelings of anxiousness In this episode of Brain in the Game, we dive right into the brain of the anxious athlete – a feeling that's all too familiar to anyone chasing success.  We explore:  🧠 Why those pre-competition nerves are not just normal, but a sign that what you're about to do is importan...

In this Episode 92, we dive into the reason why many high performing athletes don't achieve their full potential.  High performance can be tough; it demands consistency and dedication. Let's consider an athlete's journey: from amateur to competitive, to elite, and finally, to high performance. It's a rigorous process that requires intense commitment. And talent alone doesn't guarantee success...

Protecting Your Competitive Edge: The Alarming Impact This One Habit Can Have On Human Performance We have done so many wonderful things to promote the development and evolution of our species. However, there is one habit we have recently created that is causing a de-evolution of one of our performance strengths: our ability to perform and perform with confidence. And as an athlete this could be c...

All Relationships Move at the Speed of Trust I've witnessed the crucial role trust plays in the coach-athlete relationship. It's more than just a professional bond, it's foundational for performance. But how do we strike the right balance? How do we create a relationship that is both professional and performance-based? In this episode of Brain in the game, we delve into the dynamics at play. We di...

The Crucial Role of Coaches in Mental Block Management of Athletes Managing athletes with mental blocks requires a coach’s immediate attention. In this episode 89 of Brain in the Game , we delve into what we can do, as coaches, to support them by: 🧱  Understanding the Causation: We discuss the ways to identify the root cause of the mental block, and how to find out whether it stems from a fe...

Inside the Mind of High Performance Athletes and Coaches: The Science and Strategy of Goal Setting In this episode of Brain in the Game , we talk about the power of goal setting and how you can set objectives and goals as an athlete. 🥅 Goal setting is more than just a trendy buzzword, in this episode we discuss the value of effective goal setting and objectives provide, such as: 📍 Direction...

Are superheroes real? We're not talking about the web-flinging, cape-wearing, spandex-clad ones we see in movies. We're referring to our internal superheroes, our performance alter egos. In this episode of Brain in the Game , we explore how alter egos impact athletes and coaches.  We step through:  Why do we feel the need to create alter egos — why do so many performers create an alter e...

Is coaching as part of a team or coaching an individual different? And as an athlete, is competing as an individual or in a team different? Yes and No. The reason I say yes and no is because the ethos I have as a mental performance coach, and has worked really well for athletes and coaches and teams over these years, is: The best version of you, everybody benefits from. In this podcast episode, we...

Mastering Your Focal Currency: Controlling Where You Put Your Focus On our latest episode of Brain in the Game , we answer the question: How Do I Stay Focused as an Athlete When There are so Many Distractions?  We discuss: The Battle for Focal Currency – We dive deep into the concept of focal currency and how it impacts our focus and performance. Just like money, our focus is a valuable resou...

High performance coaching has evolved significantly, driven by advancements in sports science and an understanding of athlete development. In this episode, we explore modern-day coaching of the modern-day athlete, and the importance for coaches to adapt. Coaches on a Journey Coaches, like athletes, are on a journey of growth and development. In the past, the coaching philosophy ofte...

This week on Brain in the Game, we look at something that is a bit controversial when you're trying to create an organisation or a club or a group that's efficient, effective, and responsive. That is, how do you build an effective leadership group? And why is it so important for the development of you, your team, and your athletes? Firstly, for athletes, leadership groups can be beneficial in both...

How to Turn Around Your Performance When You're in a Slump In this episode of   Brain in the Game , we discuss how both athletes and coaches can turn an athlete’s performance around when they are in a slump. It's a common issue, but one that can be hard to overcome. Here are the five key steps that are critical   to getting back on track: Recognise what the tipping point was that to...