At Grow Sport Psychology, we believe that greatness isn’t built on physical skills alone, it’s also forged in the mind. Recently, our team had the privilege of coming back and working with the MLS Next players at Bavarian United SC in Milwaukee, where we led an immersive workshop designed to help athletes strengthen mental toughness, boost confidence, and improve communication both on and off the pitch.
When we think of high-level athletes, speed, agility, and technical skills often come to mind. But ask any professional, and they’ll tell you: soccer is as much a mental game as it is a physical one. Confidence, focus, resilience, and the ability to recover quickly from mistakes often make the difference between good players and great ones.
Our workshop was built to help athletes understand this crucial connection and to experience it firsthand.
We brought mental performance to life by leading interactive psychoeducational sessions with teams followed by four breakout stations designed to challenge players to reflect, communicate, and compete in new ways.
1. Blind Obstacle Course: The Power of Trust & Communication
Players paired up, with one blindfolded and the other guiding them through a maze while teammates created noisy distractions. The exercise highlighted the importance of trusting your teammates, tuning out distractions, and staying focused on clear communication—all critical skills in high-pressure game moments.
2. The Weighted Backpack: Letting Go of Mental Burdens
Athletes ran drills with and without a backpack filled with“weights”—words representing stressors or self-doubt. The powerful takeaway? We all carry invisible weights that impact performance. Recognizing and learning how to release those burdens allows players to perform with freedom and confidence.
3. The Bucket Challenge: Accountability & Teamwork Under Pressure
Small groups worked to keep a bucket balanced while removing their shoes—a simple but challenging task that required patience,accountability, and problem-solving. This activity underscored that every player’s focus matters; when one teammate loses concentration, the whole team feels the impact.
4. Head/Catch Game: Bouncing Back from Mistakes
A quick-reaction game where players had to do the opposite of what was called out—catch on “head” and head on “catch.” Mistakes were inevitable, but that was the point: the exercise emphasized resilience,composure, and learning to respond positively when things don’t go your way.
Throughout the sessions, we tied each activity back to the FourC’s of Mental Toughness: Confidence, Control, Commitment, and Challenge. Athletes practiced skills like visualization, positive self-talk, and mistake management while also learning strategies to:
- Stay locked in on controllables (effort, attitude,preparation)
- Build a personal “confidence resume” to remind themselves of past successes.
- Learning how to identify and challenge ANTS (Automatic Negative Thoughts)
- Reset quickly after mistakes and refocus on the next play
- Support teammates through encouragement and accountability
By the end of the workshop, Bavarian United SC athletes weren’t just physically drained; they were mentally sharper, more connected, and more confident in their ability to manage pressure and play with purpose.
As one coach noted, “These players learned that the difference-maker isn’t always who runs the fastest or kicks the hardest—it’s who can keep their mind clear and respond with resilience when the game is on the line.”
Grow Sport Psychology is proud to partner with organizations like Bavarian United SC, helping athletes at every level develop the mental edge needed to succeed in soccer and in life. Mental performance training is not just for the pros; it’s a skill set that builds stronger, more resilient players and teammates at every age. Because when the mind is strong, the game changes.
To Learn More:
Call: 331-457-2020
Email: sports@growwellnessgroup.com
Website: https://www.growwellnessgroup.com
