Optimal Performance

Hi, my name is Tonja Hadley, aka Coach T. 

I am a sports & performance professional and owner of Optimal Performance Group, LLC, a company dedicated to helping athletes/performers/producers be their best. We take a strengths-based, systems approach rooted in positive, sports and performance psychology focusing on the whole athlete. Using scientifically validated, world-class assessments, we help athletes be at their best from the inside out! 

In the world of sports, the focus has traditionally been on physical training and skill development. However, recognizing the crucial link between mental health and athletic performance, the implementation of mental skills training programs has gained significant traction. These programs not only enhance performance but also promote positive mental health among athletes, particularly in the realm of youth sports. This article delves into the benefits of mental skills training programs and sheds light on the state of play for youth sports, highlighting the need for prioritizing mental health.

Mental skills training programs provide athletes with a wide range of tools and techniques to enhance their performance. By developing skills such as goal setting, visualization, focus, and self-regulation, athletes can optimize their performance, increase confidence, and improve their ability to handle pressure situations. Research has shown that athletes who undergo mental skills training experience improved performance outcomes and better overall results in their respective sports.

Youth athletes often face high levels of stress and anxiety due to competitive pressures, academic demands, and social expectations. Mental skills training programs equip them with coping mechanisms to manage these stressors effectively. According to studies, athletes who receive mental skills training demonstrate reduced levels of stress and anxiety, leading to enhanced mental well-being.

Athletes face numerous challenges, setbacks, and failures throughout their sporting journeys. Mental skills training programs emphasize the development of resilience and mental toughness, enabling athletes to bounce back from setbacks and persevere through difficult times. Research indicates that athletes who possess greater mental toughness are more likely to maintain positive mental health and sustain high levels of performance.

The ability to maintain focus and concentration is vital for athletes during training and competition. Mental skills training programs teach athletes techniques such as mindfulness and attentional control, which enhance their ability to stay present and focused. This heightened focus leads to improved decision-making, reaction times, and overall performance.

Despite the immense benefits of mental skills training programs, youth sports often neglect mental health considerations. Here are some concerning statistics highlighting the need for change:

Mental Health Concerns: Studies reveal that around 70% of youth athletes report experiencing at least one episode of anxiety or depression during their sporting careers.

Dropout Rates: Approximately 70% of youth athletes quit organized sports by the age of 13. Mental health challenges, including performance anxiety and burnout, contribute significantly to these dropout rates.

Lack of Support: Despite the prevalence of mental health issues, a significant number of youth athletes do not receive adequate support or resources to address their mental well-being.

Implementing mental skills training programs in youth sports can have a transformative impact on the well-being and development of young athletes. By incorporating mental health into the fabric of youth sports, we can:

Foster Resilience: Mental skills training programs empower young athletes to navigate challenges and setbacks, instilling resilience that can be carried into various areas of their lives.

Enhance Performance: Equipping youth athletes with mental skills from an early age allows them to develop a strong foundation for peak performance and lifelong athletic success.

Promote Long-Term Mental Health: By addressing mental health concerns within youth sports, we can promote a culture of open dialogue, destigmatize mental health challenges, and provide the necessary resources for young athletes to flourish both on and off the field.

Wrap-Up:

Mental skills training programs have the power to revolutionize the landscape of youth sports, placing mental health at the forefront of athletic development. By investing in these programs, we can unlock the

We are expanding our programs to help bring greater access to mental skills training for more athletes. This fundraiser will help us with three new initiatives:

1-On-the-go mobile app: This app will be full of quick tips, resources, and practice skills to help athletes when they need it most...during competition. Your donation will help us fund the development, launch, and promotion of the app. Having an on-the-go resource will provide athletes with a resource of tools to help them in real-time. Our app will be unique in that it will feature our proprietary Mental Skills for Mental

Health program and will be subscription based.

2- Mobile classroom: This mobile lab will allow us to attend some of the biggest sporting events for youth athletes, providing the ability to be on-site with mental skills training and resources to help athletes during competition. Plus this will help us gain exposure and promote the Mental Skills for Mental Health® program. Your donation will help us secure the lab unit and the build-out, plus the wrap to maximize exposure. This will be a safe, secure, and comfortable place to meet with athletes, coaches, and parents and will feature separate rooms for intake and information, a private meeting room, a quiet, secluded meditation station, a kitchen and private bathroom, a small pro-shop featuring tools such as stress balls, spinners, eye masks, journals, quick guides, and workbooks in addition to other mental skills, mental health, and sports psychology resources.

3-Mental Skills for Mental Health program: This new program provides mental skills training through a mental health lens, giving athletes the tools, resources, and training needed to create and maintain a healthy relationship with their sport. Your donation will help with the creation, editing, launch, and scaling of the program.

4-New website and social media marketing: Your investment will help us fund a new website to support the programs and services. In addition, social media marketing campaigns to launch our vision

5-Working capital: Funds from investors will also help us with working capital