How to Start the Season Off Well and Set the Tone for the Year
How to Start the Season Off Well and Set the Tone for the Year
Before the start of any seasons, I always get players, coaches, parents, and teams reaching out asking
“How do I start off the season well?”
“How do I set the tone for my season?”
The fact is, you get one chance to set the tone of your season. That can be nerve-wracking! Athletes, coaches, and parents may now know where to start, or how to do that exactly. As a sport parent, mental health professional specializing in working with athletes, and a former athlete and coach myself, I wanted to share some tips along the way I have lived, learned, and suggest for the players I work with.
Just as we train our bodies, we have to train our minds.
Success in sports isn’t just about skills or physical training. The best athletes and teams know that sports performance is fueled by the mental game just as much as the physical one. That’s why many athletes are now working with mindset coaches to strengthen confidence, consistency, and composure — the foundation of peak performance.
One of the most powerful tools I use with athletes is the “3 + 3 Mental Focus Framework”. 3 is great because it can be difficult to focus on anything more! It helps players set clear intentions both on and off the ice, court, or field, so they can perform at their best while also being strong teammates and leaders.
Why Mindset Matters in Sports
When athletes focus on how they want to show up, they step into games and practices with clarity and purpose. This reduces overthinking, manages nerves, and builds the flow state that leads to great performances.
But great athletes aren’t only defined by stats. They’re also measured by how they treat their teammates, how they lead in the locker room, and how they handle challenges. That’s why this approach combines both character focuses and performance focuses.
✅ 3 Off-the-Ice (or Field/Court/Pitch/etc) Focuses: Leadership and Character
One of my favorite men’s Team USA coaches, Tom Ward, instilled in me from an earlier age, “be a good person first.”
These are about being a great teammate, leader, and person — the qualities that strengthen team culture and make athletes coachable and respected.
Examples:
- Be first in line for drills → Show commitment and set the pace.
- Encourage teammates → Say “Great pass!” or “Nice shot!” to build trust and morale.
- Be welcoming → Make others feel included, especially new teammates.
- Bring energy → Stay positive in the locker room, even after tough moments.
- Be coachable → Listen, learn, and apply feedback with respect.
Athletes who focus here not only improve team dynamics but also build leadership skills that last long after sports.
✅ 3 On-the-Ice (Field/Court/Pitch/etc) Focuses: Performance and Mindset
These are about setting the tone for performance, staying composed, and fueling confidence in competition.
Examples:
- Attitude → Play with gratitude: “I GET to do this.” Gratitude fuels confidence.
- Effort → Outwork opponents, win battles, and compete hard every play.
- Skill → Focus on one specific detail each practice (e.g., heads up on turns, first-step quickness, crisp passes).
- Energy → Skate/run/play hard to lift your team’s pace.
- Reset → After a mistake, use the mental rep tool: Rewind → Replay → Reset.
When athletes consistently set 3 focuses for their performance, they play faster, freer, and with more composure.
How to Use the 3 + 3 Mental Focus Framework
- Before every practice or game: Write down 3 off-ice focuses + 3 on-ice focuses.
- Keep them simple and specific: Something you can easily measure or notice.
- Afterward, reflect: Did I live them out? What worked? What will I bring forward?
This small, consistent habit builds confidence, consistency, and composure — and sets the tone for the entire season, in the locker room and on the ice.
Why This Matters for Athletes, Teams, and Coaches
For athletes, this framework keeps the mental game simple and practical. For coaches, it builds a stronger team culture and makes athletes more coachable. For teams, it creates consistency and accountability both on and off the playing surface.
These tools can help fuel your performance. That’s the beauty of online sports mindset coaching — athletes anywhere can access mental performance tools to take their game to the next level.
Takeaway
The mental game isn’t just about handling pressure — it’s about training the mind the same way athletes train their bodies. By focusing on 3 + 3 Mental Focuses, athletes build habits that set the tone for success, strengthen team culture, and carry confidence into every game and every season.
💡 Question for Athletes and Coaches: What’s your 3 + 3 focus this week?
Ready to Take Your Game to the Next Level?
As a former elite athlete and professional coach, I love working with athletes at all levels to improve their mental health and performance — from youth and teen athletes to professionals across sport.
What I help with:
- Building confidence and consistency
- Staying composed under pressure
- Developing leadership and communication skills
- Creating routines and mental workouts for peak performance
📍 I support athletes in Kelowna, British Columbia, and across Canada and the United States through secure online mindset coaching sessions.
👉 Book your Sports Mindset Coaching Session today and set the tone for your best season yet: