For high school athletes and families
The skills are there.Pressure changes the moment.
A high school athlete can execute confidently in practice and become hesitant when the crowd, scoreboard, selection, or expectations make a game feel different. Knowing what to do is not always the same as being ready to do it under pressure.
I help student athletes across the Cincinnati–Dayton region and online learn repeatable mental skills for preparation, attention, confidence, and recovery after mistakes. This is non-clinical performance coaching, not therapy or treatment for an anxiety disorder.
The first step is a free conversation with Philip Coffman about the athlete, sport, environment, and the specific moments that are difficult. No scorecard or profile is required before we talk.
Recognize the moment
Common high school performance challenges
Performance pressure can show up differently from athlete to athlete. The goal is to identify a specific pattern instead of telling every student to be tougher or more positive.
- Freezing, rushing, or overthinking when the game matters more than practice.
- Carrying one missed shot, turnover, save, or error into the next play.
- Comparing playing time, rankings, recruiting attention, or statistics with teammates.
- Losing focus after criticism, unexpected substitutions, or referee decisions.
- Feeling physically keyed up before a big competition and not knowing what to do with that energy.
- Struggling to speak up, accept a role, or recover confidence after a setback.
Practical skills
A simple next-play routine students can practice
- 01
Notice and name the disruption
Recognize the event without making it an identity judgment: ‘That was a mistake,’ rather than ‘I always fail when it matters.’
- 02
Reset the body
Use one familiar action such as a long exhale, relaxing the shoulders, adjusting a wristband, or stepping back into position. The goal is a usable transition, not to eliminate every feeling.
- 03
Give attention a job
Choose one immediate, controllable cue that fits the sport: first step, eyes on the ball, recover position, communicate, or commit to the next rep.
- 04
Rehearse under appropriate pressure
Train the routine during practice drills, scrimmages, and realistic decision moments. Reflect afterward on whether it helped the athlete return attention and act.
For families and coaches
Support the athlete without making every result a referendum
Students benefit from adults who can distinguish constructive challenge from added pressure. A useful conversation after competition starts with listening, not a detailed critique on the ride home. It asks what the athlete noticed, what they controlled, and what could be practiced next.
I can work with the athlete's support system on consistent language and age-appropriate routines. For minors, caregiver consent and appropriate boundaries matter. Private athlete responses are handled with care.
If the concern involves persistent distress, panic attacks, significant impairment, or other mental-health symptoms, a licensed healthcare professional is the appropriate resource. Mental performance coaching does not replace clinical care.
The consultation
What happens before we decide on training
We discuss the sport, competition schedule, what happens before or after difficult moments, existing routines, the athlete's goals, and whether coaching is the right fit. I recommend a practical next step based on that conversation.
The introductory conversation is free. A scorecard or deeper mental performance profile may help later, but neither is a condition of booking. Any ongoing engagement is scoped separately.
Related reading
- Why confidence crashes after a mistake
Understand the difference between one error and the next response.
- What parents should say after a bad game
Support recovery without adding judgment on the ride home.
- Pre-game mental routine
Build a repeatable entry routine before the first play.
Frequently asked questions
What people usually want to know first.
Can a high school athlete book without taking an assessment?
Yes. Start with a free consultation. Assessments are optional tools when they would help clarify the athlete's performance pattern.
Is this a treatment for sports anxiety?
No. This is non-clinical coaching that teaches preparation, focus, routines and performance responses. Seek a licensed clinician for diagnosis or treatment of anxiety disorders.
Can parents join the conversation?
Parents or guardians can be involved in planning and support, particularly for minors. The athlete's autonomy, consent, and appropriate privacy boundaries still matter.
Do you work only with one sport?
No. I work with the mental performance demands of different sports, adapting the examples and routines to the athlete's competition environment.
Where do you work with athletes?
I am based in southwest Ohio and serve the Greater Cincinnati and Dayton region, with virtual conversations available where appropriate.
Start with a conversation
Talk about the moments that matter.
Tell me what your athlete is experiencing and the skills they want to develop. I will help clarify whether mental performance coaching is the right next step.