Montana Peak Performance

04/22/2026

Are we unknowingly creating a culture in youth sport that encourages sports burnout??

Burnout lives right on that line between a mental performance issue and a mental health issue. When a sport begins to add pressure and stress instead of acting as an escape, that's when the progression to sports burnout begins. Here's what's currently happening that's causing athletes to burnout more often and at younger ages than ever:

*Professionalization of Youth Sport*
Kids are specializing at younger ages. And even if they are playing multiple sports, each sport is taking up multiple seasons. Between practices, pay-for-play extra games, and training sessions, is there really any time for true rest?

*Win or Fail Mentality*
Maybe this is only happening subconsciously for many of us, but young athletes are tying their own value to how well they do in sport because of consistent messages they receive.

*Burnout as Self-Protection*
I believe the brain is acting in self-protection when burnout occurs. The motivation has turned from internally focused to externally focused. The activity that was once loved is now despised. The athlete starts to wonder how much less stress they would have if they were to give it up. So, naturally, they start to feel less motivation to improve and withdraw. Almost like the mind is creating a pros and cons list of continuing to put the work in.

Here are a few simple ways to combat sports burnout:

*Switch it up*
Play multiple sports if you can or would like to, go on vacation, have a few hobbies outside of your sport. Your high schooler may be just fine with the grind when things are going well, but in college (when the real difficulties start) they will not know how to take a real break.

*Give them a reasonable choice*
Young athletes may not always make the right choice between resting and working, but it will be much more meaningful if they are responsible for their own improvement. If they are putting too much into their sport, they will know it and you should listen. Even if they don't want to tell you, pay attention to the signs.

*Keep a sense of purpose*
You know that feeling when you play sports as a kid? Nothing but fun and pure freedom. Do your best to help your kids hold onto that feeling, because many athletes at later stages lose it, and it is certainly hard to get it back. The irony is that those who still find fun in their sport perform just as well as those who see it as a job. There's plenty of proof out there.

Comment with your thoughts/experiences on sports burnout! Or visit mtpeakperformance.com for more information on individual meetings, team meetings, or online courses!

03/06/2026

March Madness is upon us!!

This is the time of the season where upsets happen and the best teams have to find a way to gut out the big wins. Why do things tighten up so much in March and become so unpredictable?

The answer involves the mental game, of course! Teams that are mature and mentally prepared are better fit to deal with the pressure of tournament time. Shifts of momentum, adversity around every corner, a little effort required; all of these lead to less separation between the "good" and the "not as good" teams.

This dynamic creates situations where one play becomes a defining moment in the game. Athletes that want to be successful in those defining moments, either naturally or through their efforts, have developed a mental ability to perform when others falter.

For online courses and other information on boosting your mental game, visit mtpeakperformance.com

11/21/2025

Transitioning from one sport to another can be a pivotal, yet stressful time for a young athlete. They have to quickly reflect and process the last season and move into the next with a clear mindset. The majority of sport seasons end with some level of disappointment:

- Coach didn't see my role like I did
- I didn't perform to the level I know that I can
- Our team didn't mesh well enough

Most issues come from UNDEFINED EXPECTATIONS. When athletes let outside sources determine their own expectations, they set the table for a disappointing season. And one sport season can lead into a lack of motivation for another, or a lack of motivation for off-season work.

How does the athlete take control of their own experience? Define their own expectations? Through working on the mental game! The Champions of the Process online course is made for times like these: during the offseason or when a new season is just getting started. Contact below for more information, or to schedule a FREE initial meeting.

10/28/2025

The Tale of 2 Athletes--Which one are you?

Not many realize that the difference between performance anxiety and a peak performance arousal level is not very big! Perception has a lot to do with it, and mental skills training often includes shifting perception. Contact me if you are struggling with a similar issue!

09/19/2025

Why don't athletes and teams play to their potential?

This question often comes up through the progression of a season. When an athlete or team know what level they should be at, but aren't quite there on a regular basis. This newsletter talks about the equations of team and individual performance: https://mailchi.mp/0790f6bb3624/new-online-course-44408

To subscribe to the free newsletter, go here: http://eepurl.com/iPg_WM

09/12/2025

I really shy away from making "guarantees" of higher performance. Why? Because there are too many variables!

#1 - Mental Skill cannot replace Physical Skill

The mental game is about unlocking your potential, freeing you up to play at your highest level. If the physical side isn't there, the mental side won't make up for it.

#2 - There is no true Cause and Effect in sports

Anyone who says they have "proven" something is really doing nothing more than trying to take credit. There is no proven approach to anything in sports. Your strength and conditioning program, your practices or sessions, even your mental skills program; NONE of them will work without YOU executing the skills when the time comes! And how can you point back to any one of these as "the key" to your success? Why not point within, instead?

What I can honestly guarantee is that the athletes I work with will have a better, more positive experience with their sport. They will have a better perspective, as well. A natural byproduct of these things is often higher performance, but that happens without fixation on the outcome and with more self-pride.

09/09/2025

DO YOU NEED SPORT PSYCHOLOGY?

Some don't know what sport psychology really is, but even those who do question if it is the right thing for them. Do you, your kids, or your players struggle with the following issues?

- You don't know your role
- You don't have a positive relationship with your coach and it's affecting your confidence level
- You have a mental block driven by fear, or you can't perform something in your sport that you could normally
- You have general low confidence due to expectations not meeting with reality
- You have performance anxiety that you can't manage before a game and it harms your performance
- You have a hard time keeping your composure when you make mistakes and one mistake often turns into more
- You dwell on the bad things after competition, allowing the negativity to affect other parts of your life
- You are putting too much pressure on yourself by fixating on outcomes
- You are recovering from injury and are experiencing fear, mental blocks, or lack of motivation

Many athletes can "work through" these issues, but some cannot. Failure to reach potential is one obvious consequence, but these issues sometimes lead to the end of an athletic career if they aren't managed appropriately. Sport psychology has the answers for many of these problems.

09/04/2025

New study is out on coaching and team culture. It says that coaches who experience consistent success usually bounce back from losing seasons with 2 different strategies:

1) Proper Self-Evaluation and reflection. They are honest with themselves! Shifting blame is much easier than taking it. I think the same thing can apply to players after a rough season.

2) Including the athletes in on setting a new culture. I've said this many times in classes or group sessions: you will only truly buy into something if you feel that you have contributed.

Coaches that do this show an ability to bounce back to their successful ways within a couple seasons. How often do we, in sports, think that things will happen by chance?

Head to mtpeakperformance.com to see more on the process of taking control of your own experience.

09/03/2025

A few major announcements!

A new online course called the Champions of the Process Individual course!

- See more details here: mtpeakperformance.com/online-courses
- Six educational modules
- Meetings in between to apply the information
- Meant to solve the problems around TIME (you can do it on your own) and LOCATION (you can do this without going to an in-person meeting)

Also, there will be a new structure for individual meetings!

- No more pay-per-session or session packages
- Now it will be a monthly agreement, see more details here: mtpeakperformance.com/services
- Unlimited meetings within the month
- Availability through texts, emails, calls, video calls, or in-person meetings
- Allows for more engagement, a better relationship and ability to walk through difficult situations at any time
- Limited to 10-12 athletes at a time!

08/07/2024

Sport Psychology at the Olympics -

Like any sports enthusiast, I’ve been watching the Olympics on a daily basis. Team sports like basketball, soccer, and volleyball. Individual sports like swimming, gymnastics, and track and field. It doesn’t matter what you watch in the 16-day span, there is greatness in every competition.

05/31/2024

Champions of the Process Newsletter - https://mailchi.mp/8236ff149960/champions-of-the-process-newsletter

Newsletter number 1!

Whether you're an athlete looking to boost your mental game, a coach aiming to support your team better, or simply passionate about sports psychology, this newsletter is for you!

📬 Subscribe now to receive the latest updates straight to your inbox: http://eepurl.com/iPg_WM

🔄 Spread the word and share this post with anyone who loves sports and wants to gain a mental edge!

Do you ever sit and watch a practice or youth game and catch yourself thinking, “Isn’t there a better way to learn the sport than this?” We often get caught in our ways when it comes to teaching young kids how to play, but we don’t understand the importance of how a young athlete internalize...

05/07/2024

1st Champions of the Process Newsletter comes out tomorrow! The topic is Youth Sport Design: How Play beats Competition in the long run.

This information can be helpful for Parents, Coaches, or aspiring Leaders in Youth Sport!

Subscribe here: http://eepurl.com/iPg_WM (or in the story) to make sure you don’t miss out.

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