Center for Sports and the Mind

Center for Sports and the Mind Mental strength training for athletes, coaches, parents and teams. Are you in the Optimal Performance Zone? (OPZ)

We see it every day. What does it feel like?

Performance in work life, sports and every day family life often varies. There are good days and bad. This is reasonable to expect and not uncommon. What goes into affecting this performance is unique to each person, situation and group or team. We can have all the physical tools and talents, but if we can’t find our optimal performance zone—mentally, those talents can often only take you so far.

Why can one team play at a high level, and others never find their way of similar skills and talents? Factors could be constant negative feedback from a coach or client, pressure from parents to excel, and win-at-all-costs mentality all can overtake thoughts and impact performance. Add to that additional external factors, pressures and culture also play into this variability. The difference between competing at the highest level, when many factors are equal, often boils down to mental toughness. The learned mental behavior of how to succeed against great odds, overcoming interference and obstacles, self-imposed and external. How do you find the Optimal Performance Zone (OPZ)? What conditions need to be present to find it and maintain mastery? At the Center for Sports and the Mind, we provide athletes with a unique blend of brain science with proven tools and methods to impact and transform performance. Our program revolves around these building blocks of mental strength development. Our unique process of discovery through mastery is detailed and thorough to maximize the probability of mental strength improvement.

08/21/2026

Control Process Focus

The first week of practice isn't just about installing systems.It's about building trust.Athletes are more likely to buy...
08/20/2026

The first week of practice isn't just about installing systems.

It's about building trust.

Athletes are more likely to buy into your coaching when they know you're invested in them, not just their performance.

08/19/2026

Rest isn't taking time away from your performance.

It's part of your performance.

Hans and Erin discuss why so many athletes struggle to slow down, how hustle culture can lead to burnout, and why recovery is one of the most overlooked performance tools.

🎙️ Listen to the full episode:
Apple: https://rpb.li/rkjwHp
Spotify: https://rpb.li/Tny6k1

🎙️ New Podcast EpisodeWhat are we actually building when it comes to youth athletes?Hans sits down with Dave Brown, owne...
08/18/2026

🎙️ New Podcast Episode

What are we actually building when it comes to youth athletes?

Hans sits down with Dave Brown, owner of The Base Sports Performance and head coach of the Rogers Royals, to talk about athlete development, the pressure to perform at younger ages, and the conversations coaches sometimes struggle to have with families.

They also dig into Dave’s own unconventional hockey journey and what years of coaching and training athletes have taught him about what really matters.

A great conversation for coaches, parents, and anyone invested in helping young athletes grow.

Listen here:
Apple: https://rpb.li/RWQH
Spotify: https://rpb.li/CbINS

08/14/2026

Success Has a Departure Gate

Most athletes say they want confidence… but they’ve never actually built it.Your challenge:Write down 100 reasons you ca...
08/13/2026

Most athletes say they want confidence… but they’ve never actually built it.

Your challenge:
Write down 100 reasons you can be confident.

Not hype. Not opinions. Evidence.

• Times you showed up
• Times you improved
• Times you didn’t quit

Confidence isn’t something you wait for.
It’s something you prove to yourself.

Start with 10 today.

Comment “100” if you’re in.

08/12/2026

Committing to a college is exciting.

But don't let the excitement of posting about it become more important than making the right decision.

Bethany and Hans discuss why choosing the right fit matters far more than chasing likes or celebrating a commitment online.

🎙️ Listen to the full episode:

Apple: https://rpb.li/oHuIZm
Spotify: https://rpb.li/m1ZTiS

Confidence isn't something athletes find on opening day.It's something they build every practice.Every rep.Every challen...
08/10/2026

Confidence isn't something athletes find on opening day.

It's something they build every practice.

Every rep.
Every challenge.
Every time they choose to keep going after a mistake.

That's why confidence is trained, not discovered.

Athletes are more than their performance.Behind every game, practice, or competition is a person navigating expectations...
08/08/2026

Athletes are more than their performance.

Behind every game, practice, or competition is a person navigating expectations, setbacks, confidence, and growth.

Don't Cheat the Athlete is designed for professionals who want to better understand the whole athlete, not just the sport they play.

📅 August 14, 2026
📍 Plymouth Community Center

More information:
dont-cheat-the-athlete.centerforsportsandmind.com

08/07/2026

Built Different: The Power of 100

Address

4900 Highway 169, Ste 300
New Hope, MN
55428

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
6pm - 7pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
6pm - 7pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
6pm - 7pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
6pm - 7pm

Telephone

+17635468175

Website

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