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.

Taking Fear Out of the Game: The Secret to Unlocking True Athlete Potential
Today’s most successful coaches realize that fear isn’t a sustainable motivator—it paralyzes players, limits growth, and stunts team chemistry. Championship coach Greg Tonagel, guest on the Mental Mettle Podcast, is a standout example of why taking fear out of sports completely changes the trajectory of athletes—and entire programs.
Unlocking True Confidence: How Mental Metal Coaching Helps Athletes Build Resilience That Lasts
In competitive sports, the difference between potential and actual performance often comes down to one thing: mental toughness. While athletes and teams pour hours into skill drills and strength training, true confidence and resilience are often left to chance. At Mental Metal Coaching, we believe this “third skill set” – your mindset – is the gamechanger that so many teams and athletes are missing.
Control the Controllables: The Key to Building Mental Toughness in Athletes
While scoreboard success grabs the headlines, the real secret to peak performance – and lifelong growth – lies in a deceptively simple idea: control the controllables.