Dan Mickle - Performance Psychology Professional

08/09/2026

Great players play free because they’ve trained with structure.

08/09/2026

I looked up in a waiting room recently and realized almost everyone was staring at a phone.

Then I realized I was only noticing because I had finally looked up from mine.

We are really good at filling every empty moment now. But sports are full of moments that are not exciting, and getting good at something often means staying engaged long after the novelty is gone.

So this week I started wondering whether boredom might actually be one of the places attention gets trained.

IGMT #059 is called “Nothing Happened,” and fittingly, the call to action this week is no action at all.

Read it here:

What if boredom is not something athletes need to escape, but a quiet place where attention gets trained?

07/09/2026

🔹 Is internal motivation more stable than external rewards?

🧠 Some say this is a crucial element of sports success, while others believe it is secondary. What are your thoughts on this? Should it be prioritized more, or does it depend on the athlete?

No wrong answers, just perspectives. What is yours?

07/09/2026

Support, Struggle, or Rescue?

Support, Struggle, or Rescue? Finding the Right Support for Neurodivergent Athletes I spend a lot of time thinking about how we support neurodivergent athletes....

https://www.danmickle.com/support-struggle-or-rescue/

Support, Struggle, or Rescue? Finding the Right Support for Neurodivergent Athletes I spend a lot of time thinking about how we support neurodivergent athletes. Between coaching, mental performance, and my …

03/09/2026

The moment you stop learning, you start declining.

01/09/2026

Work until confidence replaces hope.

27/08/2026

A setback isn’t punishment; it’s preparation.

27/08/2026

25/08/2026

You can’t rush trust—it’s built through consistency.

21/08/2026

This summer, I launched Leadership 101, an 8-week leadership development program built specifically for young athletes.

The response was strong. The first session filled, we had a waitlist, and the feedback reinforced something I have believed for a long time: leadership development in sport needs to go beyond simply naming captains and hoping they figure it out.

So, Leadership 101 is returning this fall.

The program focuses on helping young athletes better understand how they lead themselves, communicate with others, respond to challenges, build trust, and influence the culture around them.

Over eight weeks, athletes will work through topics including:

• Self-leadership
• Confidence and presence
• Communication and relationships
• Leading through challenges
• Culture and influence

The program combines online learning with live sessions, giving athletes opportunities to reflect, apply what they are learning in their own environments, and discuss those experiences with others.

Early bird registration is $79 through September 20. Registration will increase to $99 after that.

If you work with a young athlete who could benefit from intentional leadership development, I would love to have them join us this fall.

Leadership 101 is an 8-week hybrid leadership course for athletes ages 13-18. Learn communication, confidence, decision-making, teamwork, and leadership skills through weekly lessons and live coaching sessions.