Building Mental Toughness in Athletes

The Ember to Inferno series guides coaches through their own journey of mental toughness while providing actionable strategies to build confidence and belief in their athletes. Rather than simply introducing more adversity, the focus is on creating a strong foundation for mental resilience.

Key Topics covered

Understanding Mental Toughness

Basics, definition, and factors contributing to its loss

Modern Challenges

Impact of social media, athletic pressures, and trauma

Neuroplasticity

Techniques for developing mental toughness

Mindfulness

Methods for improving focus and control

Confidence Building

Recognizing and controlling inner voice, practicing gratitude

Intentional Adversity

Assessing growth mindset and developing related skills

Accountability

Creating practice plans that consider mental health

Program Options

Keynote Presentation
  • Format: In-Person

  • Audience: All Staff

  • Duration: 60–90 minutes

Small Group Coaching Sessions

Ideal for groups of 5-10 people (grade levels, committees, departments, administrative staff).

  • Format: Virtual

  • Duration: 1 hour per session

Combined Presentation and Coaching Sessions

A comprehensive SEL program starting with the keynote presentation for all coaches, followed by small group coaching sessions throughout the school year.

About Coach matt Thomann

Matt Thomann is a highly regarded sports mental performance coach and life coach with over a decade of experience in public education as a teacher, coach, and administrator. His journey to becoming a life coach was shaped by a series of life-altering events in 2020, including a cancer diagnosis and an ischemic stroke while managing a school during the Covid-19 pandemic.

These challenges taught Matt the essential nature of a positive mindset in overcoming life's obstacles. After relearning to speak and read aloud, and benefiting from positive psychology techniques, Matt decided to pivot his career. He began life coach training just five months after his stroke, combining his newfound insights with his extensive background in education and athletics.

The Mental Edge

"The Mental Edge" is your go-to resource for unlocking peak performance through mental resilience and strategic mindset training with stories containing valuable insights, practical tips, and expert advice tailored for athletes, coaches, and parents alike. Explore techniques to enhance focus, build confidence, and overcome adversity, empowering you to excel in sports and life.

Hope as a High-Performance Skill: How to Build Mental Toughness Before Life Falls Apart
Hope isn’t just a feeling you get when things are going well. It is a mental and spiritual skill you can deliberately build long before life blindsides you. That is one of the biggest themes in Episode 132 of The Mental Mettle Podcast, “The Power of Hope with Derek Gordon,” and it has huge implications for athletes, coaches, parents, and anyone trying to stay resilient in a chaotic world.
The Power of Positive Team Culture: How Winning Environments Shape Student-Athletes for Life
When it comes to building successful sports programs, the scoreboard rarely tells the whole story. The true legacy of a coach or team isn’t just in championships or records – but in the habits, values, and growth mindsets that athletes take into the world.
Sleep: The Hidden Edge for Athletic Performance
One of the most impactful topics explored in Episode 125 of the Mental Mettle Podcast is the science—and overlooked power—of sleep for elite performance. As a coach who’s experienced firsthand the mental and physical toll of sleep issues, Coach Matt Thomann dives deep into how quality rest is not just for recovery, but a true superpower for athletic and cognitive growth.​