Mastering Self-Talk
Hey, team, happy Sunday!
The most important voice in your game is the one inside your head.
Table of Contents
🎯 For Athletes: Speak to Yourself Like You Would Your Best Teammate
3 Ways to Build Better Self-Talk on Game Day
Name the voice in your head. Give your negative thoughts a name like “Doubt Dan” or “Nervous Nancy” — then prove them wrong.
Use trigger phrases. Pick 2–3 power statements like “I’m built for this” or “Next play, let’s go.” Keep them short and snappy.
Flip “I have to” into “I get to.” Gratitude flips pressure into purpose.
2 Quotes to Fuel You
Serena Williams: “You have to believe in yourself when no one else does. That’s what makes you a winner.”
Trevor Moawad: “Your brain hears everything you say. Say something great.”
1 Question to Reflect On
If your inner voice were a coach, would you want to play for them?
👨👩👧 For Parents: Helping Your Athlete Build Mental Muscles
3 Ways to Guide Positive Self-Talk at Home
Watch your language. How you talk about their mistakes teaches them how to talk to themselves.
Model healthy self-talk. Say out loud when you’re working through frustration or disappointment with grace.
Create a family mantra. Something like, “Lovells bounce back,” or “We do hard things.” It sticks more than a lecture.
2 Quotes to Guide You
Carol Dweck: “Becoming is better than being.”
Rachel Simmons: “Self-talk is not fluff. It’s a tool — and like any tool, it needs practice to be effective.”
1 Question to Reflect On
When your child messes up, do they hear encouragement or judgment in your voice?
🧢 For Coaches: Training the Voice That Doesn’t Shut Off
3 Ways to Coach Better Self-Talk in Practice
“What did you say to yourself after that mistake?” Ask it often. Help them replace blame with learning.
Teach neutral thinking. It’s not “I suck.” It’s “That rep was off. Let’s adjust and fix it.”
Use affirmations in warm-ups. Get their mindset dialed in before the game even starts.
2 Quotes to Coach With
Urban Meyer: “You can’t always control your circumstances, but you can control your response.”
Jon Gordon: “Your words are the seeds. What you speak, you plant. What you plant, you grow.”
1 Question to Reflect On
Are your athletes repeating your coaching cues in their heads — or repeating their mistakes?
Self-talk is your secret weapon.
Teach it. Practice it. Own it. 💬🔥
Until next time,
David Lovell
Founder of the F.O.C.U.S. System | Mental Performance Coach
P.S. Want weekly mental toughness tips in your feed? Follow along at: https://www.instagram.com/dlovell88/