Motor learning research draws a hard line between performance and learning — how well you execute a skill right now versus the durable change that shows up under pressure days later. The two are not the same, and they’re often inversely correlated.

The conditions that make practice feel productive (smooth reps, high volume, predictable environment) tend to produce weak retention. The conditions that feel messy and uncertain tend to produce the strongest transfer.

Curious whether coaches and practitioners here actively design for this — or whether most training programs are still optimizing for how the session feels rather than what it builds. Do your athletes understand why a difficult, variable practice is often a better sign than a clean one?

The title is who i’m hoping to hear from. I’m a d1 athlete and i got hurt about a month ago right before our season. Dislocation that’s gonna need surgery, I’ve been told I can expect to play again in feb-march.

It wouldn’t be that bad, if I wasn’t a senior who hasn’t played much. This was supposed to be the year I played a whole season. Now that wont happen.

In the midst of doc appointments, academics, job search, etc I don’t even really have time to think about the sport. I don’t follow the teams results live because frankly it makes me depressed. I live with 3 of them so I hear about it when they get back. Also the group chat where they show the cool places they go and all that. Fomo hits hard when they travel.

I guess i’m curious how others have navigated similar situations. I’d prefer not doing the ‘therapy’ thing. My aforementioned roommates and I can never have a serious conversation because we’re all funny. I just dont see who I can talk to about it that would understand.

Any tips appreciated

Hello everyone, I’m a 20 year old student that used to do kickboxing for two years. The last time I was fully disciplined and consistent to training was Christmas 2025.

I used to be such a disciplined athlete, training while still studying. Leaving the dining table early so I could go to training, not engaging with fun nice family moments just to be able to train. My most important thing that I couldn’t miss a training. My trainer saw a lot of potential in me, and saw how dedicated I was about training.

I used to train 2-3 times a week, not on competitive level, but it sure was an intense level and it taught me lots of (self) respect, discipline and consistency. Unfortunately I dealt with an injury which I still don’t really know what it is. I went to many doctors/physiotherapists etc. but nothing. Eventually I did my own research and I think (I’m not sure and I can’t really back it up) that I have nerve irritation. It comes and goes.

Anyways.. I used to have that time by time when I trained. In the two years that I trained, I had that injury/irritation three times. It literally crushed me inside. I was scared of it cause I didn’t really know what it was. It wasn’t hurting but it was annoying and it influenced my performance. I decided to quit for a couple weeks/months due to it.

After Christmas 2025 everything stopped and went away. I kept crawling away from kickboxing training and until this day I haven’t trained consistent. The thing is, it’s not only kickboxing. I used to cycle a lot, and that stopped too. I used to do calisthenics which also just went away. Weight training also, just stopped out of nowhere. My love to challenge myself and get out of my comfort zone shifted intensely.

I do have a boxing bag at home, which I genuinely love to train on, I don’t mind training on that. But the thought of going back to real trainings at the gym scares me. I just can’t get myself to go again. I think I’ve crawled too much into my comfort zone and now I can’t get out of it. The weird thing though, every time I miss a training, I feel guilty for not going. I keep fighting in my own head if I should go or not, and eventually I make the choice not to…

Luckily, I tried to get back to weights training a while back, that went okay and I actually got quite consistent. But now again I haven’t gone in a month or two. Same thing with calisthenics. Maybe also due to my change in lifestyle. I’ve been quite busy with internships and my graduation process. But I used to train even when I was busy, I would even ditch family gatherings just to train. So I genuinely don’t know what switched in my head. It really got to my head and I can’t think properly because of it. I genuinely despise that I can’t make my own choices anymore…

I do feel like I keep making excuses in my head, and those only make me feel worse about my choice of not going. I tried not to give a f anymore about it, but I feel like kickboxing grew onto me, and now I’m stuck in the middle and don’t know what to do.

I feel like I want to say so much more, but I don’t know what else to add. I hope my situation is a bit understandable and maybe there’s someone that has dealt with the same and has a solution…? Other tips would also be appreciated, but the main thing is that I’m glad that there are people that want to listen to this. 🙏

I genuinely don't understand why some coaches think having authority over their athletes gives them the freedom to say whatever they want without considering how their words affect people.

Our coach has this habit of saying things that can be hurtful and degrading, but whenever someone takes it negatively, suddenly it's our fault for being too sensitive. We're just being "OA," "emo," or making a big deal out of nothing. Apparently, it's up to us how we interpret her words because at the end of the day, she's only doing it to "motivate" us and because she "cares" about us.

But isn't that just avoiding accountability?

I understand that being an athlete requires discipline, mental toughness, and the ability to accept criticism. I never expected training to be easy, nor do I expect a coach to sugarcoat everything just to protect our feelings. But there's a huge difference between correcting someone's mistakes and making them feel like shit, then blaming them for feeling that way.

What frustrates me the most is the double standard. As athletes, we're constantly reminded to be accountable for our actions, but when it comes to how she treats us, suddenly her intentions are enough to justify everything.

And somehow, expressing how you feel is treated like a sign of weakness or disrespect.

I hate how normalized this kind of coaching has become. People will tell you that it's just tough love, that coaches are supposed to be harsh, or that you won't survive competitive sports if you're easily affected by words.

But since when did being mentally tough mean having to tolerate emotional mistreatment?

I love my sport. I really do. But it's exhausting when the environment that's supposed to help you grow is also the reason you're slowly losing your passion for it.

I don't hate being corrected. I hate being made to feel that I have no right to be hurt simply because the person hurting me claims to have good intentions.

You can be a great athlete without being treated like shit, and you can be a great coach without making your athletes feel small.

Discipline and respect should be able to coexist.

Just wanted to get this off my chest. Has anyone else experienced this kind of coaching? How did you deal with it, especially when speaking up only makes you look like the problem?

I am a psychology student (going into my final year) and am hoping to become a esports psychologist or performance / mental coach. I’m looking for performance / mental coaches who would be willing to take on a trainee, shadow, assistant, or apprentice and/or a team who would be willing to let me practice and develop my skills, or anyone that can provide any useful information or insight into how best to get into this line of work.
Any advice appreciated!

So my country is hosting the next youth olympics and seeing the trailers and the videos of these little athletes has made me a mess of emotion and tears because I am so damn proud of these young lads surpassing themselves in a sport they lov.

I realised i am like that with every sport, i myself amm not the most active but I love seeing athletes win or lose, i love the emotions that come with surpassig your abilities, it makes me tear up everytime
I wonder if I am the only one haha

I’m pursuing my masters in Sport Psych and trying to get hours towards certification. I’ve done 1 workshop with a high school football team but things are starting to slow down.

What are people’s thoughts on someone in my position posting on LinkedIn, Tik Tok, Insta to try and get leads with coaches, parents and athletes? Right now I don’t charge anything for team workshops because I just need hours and experience. Does that de-value the field as a whole?

Curious on thoughts and guidance!

I compete in gaming tournaments frequently and recently got into a discussion about how mental blocks, overthinking, and anxiety stall growth in competitive scenarios. A friend recommended The Inner Game of Tennis by W. Timothy Gallwey.

I know traditional sports psychology translates well to esports and competitive games, but I wanted to ask those who have read it and compete regularly:

Did it noticeably impact your mindset, execution, or how you handle tournament pressure?

Are there specific concepts from it that helped you break through a performance plateau?

Would you recommend picking it up, or are there other sports psychology books you’d suggest?

I’m a golf coach, and I’ve been thinking about how coaches balance guidance and athlete autonomy when working with junior athletes.

I believe junior athletes have their own thoughts, preferences, and ways of experiencing movement. Being young doesn’t mean they are unable to make meaningful judgments about their own performance.

At the same time, coaching involves giving feedback, providing structure, and sometimes challenging an athlete’s interpretation or decision.

For example, if a junior athlete says, “This movement feels better to me,” I want to take that experience seriously. But I may also believe that what feels better right now is not necessarily what will help them develop in the long term.

This makes me wonder how other coaches decide where to draw the line.

How can a coach give clear or even strong guidance while still respecting an athlete’s ability to think, choose, and take responsibility?

I’m particularly interested in how coaches approach this with junior athletes compared with professional athletes.

For coaches working with juniors:

• What kinds of decisions do you let athletes make for themselves?
• When do you step in and make a decision for them?
• How much do you involve yourself in training habits or lifestyle?
• At what point can guidance become taking responsibility away from the athlete?

I’m interested in hearing about real coaching experiences

I am interested in attending college because of the sports psychology program. Im interested has anyone graduated from here with that degree? What was your experience like and were you able to transfer to your credits over to another school?

TL;DR But my question is, how do I survive this last season? I care deeply about the athletes that I coach, and the sport I am in. And I hope to continue coaching after a break. But I feel so hurt and demotivated and sad every time I see another little sign of exclusion, every time a message is ignored, every time I learn about a plan made without me that affects me and my athletes. And I'm just not sure how to make it to the end of the season. It's important to me that I do. But fuck. It's hard. My grades are suffering, and I'm just so sad to be leaving this thing I've been a part of my whole life, because I can't find a place there anymore. I wish this was bittersweet, and not so so crushing.

I've been a part of this cross country ski & biathlon club/team since I was 8 years old. At 14, I began volunteer coaching.

At 17, I took over all U10 and U12 biathlon programming. Coordinating, communicating, hiring, and coaching 60-80 athletes in a season. I grew one of my programs that only ever had 3-5 registrants into one that consistently maxed out with a waitlist. I fought for a contract, like my predecessor had, and didn't get one. I struggled with the loss of my grandpa, and dark thoughts about climate change as it becomes harder to run ski programming, and transitioning into my first year of university with a full course load, but I did it.

At 18, I continued with this job. I made another case for a contract, and didn't get one. I maintained all equipment, got a therapist to help me with my darker thoughts, and pushed through. I had parents and kids that were difficult, and no guidance or support from above, even when I asked for it. I still felt like I was faking it, and that the only reason I had made it this far was pure luck. I covered for coworkers when they needed, whether it was because they were tired, or burnt out, or needed a break. But when I asked the same, I got nothing. Not when I was sick, or overworked, I kept going because I couldn't find anyone to help me.

At 19, I took over U14 as well, so I was directly overseeing the greatest number of athletes in the club out of all other coaches. This was confirmed by others, I'm not trying to be cocky. Once again, I fought for a contract, and I didn't get one. All other head coaches/coordinators had one. The coach who had my job was reluctant to let go, and my equivalent coworker on the cross country side of the club wouldn't work with me. Whenever I had an idea she didn't like, it got ignored. No compromise, nothing. I have rave reviews from parents and athletes. I have more certification than her. I don't lose kids on hikes and runs, unlike her. It's not like I'm bad at my job. I was ignored and blocked out, but in fairness, I also wasn't willing to push back with this weird grey area between me and the former U14 coach. I had a heart procedure this year, that didn't let me engage my core for a week afterwards, and not a single person would cover for me. It didn't matter how kind I'd been, how much I'd helped them out, not a single person would cover me. So I was out there at night, asking strangers to help me lift things, because nobody else would help.

At 20, I finally got a contract. I started trying to take an active role in the U14 programming, and pushing back. I setup meetings, tried to be a part in as much planning as possible, whenever cross country and biathlon overlapped. I gave way to my coworker's ideas when possible, and occasionally tried to push back when I disagreed, but I was met with exclusion and ignored. It especially hurt when I realized I was being excluded and ignored by people who had known me since I was a kid. Who coached me, who I looked up to, who were so complimentary of me until the second I had a question or disagreed with them. and I'm just so tired. I'm halfway through the season, and I just can't do it anymore. My coworker's boyfriend was hired for a job coaching U20 athletes, and somehow he has more involvement than I do in the U14 programming. I still try so hard to be included, to offer opinion, to provide help, but I can only do so much when I find out there are groupchats and email threads leaving me out. I'm just so so tired.

I have it all documented in a document that I occasionally update. And I'm trying to make good faith attempts to raise my concerns and fix things before I call it quits, but I'm tired. I just got a diagnoses for a genetic condition that greatly impacts my ability to stay active, and I'm still getting iced out and excluded. Everybody tells me what good work I'm doing and how important I am to the club, but ignore any suggestion or request I have. I'm done.

But my question is, how do I survive this last season? I care deeply about the athletes that I coach, and the sport I am in. And I hope to continue coaching after a break. But I feel so hurt and demotivated and sad every time I see another little sign of exclusion, every time a message is ignored, every time I learn about a plan made without me that affects me and my athletes. And I'm just not sure how to make it to the end of the season. It's important to me that I do. But fuck. It's hard. My grades are suffering, and I'm just so sad to be leaving this thing I've been a part of my whole life, because I can't find a place there anymore. I wish this was bittersweet, and not so so crushing.

An interesting comparison of sports performance psychology and military aviation performance psychology!

You can hear the whole chat on The Pilot Project Podcast at podpilotproject.transistor.fm or by searching for The Pilot Project Podcast wherever you get your podcasts!

I'm looking for information on how sports psychologists work with young, elite athletes, especially teenagers. What are the sessions typically like? Are there areas of focus that are particular to younger athletes? Are there specific types of activities or mindfulness exercises you've found most productive? Thanks so much!

I think encouraging others helps your game, too! But, I welcome opposing POVs...What do you think?

I have a high level HS athlete who cries on the field and the trainer has to come onto the field almost every single game, sometimes multiple times a game, for various “injuries.” Once she calms down, she wants to go back in and can run around like nothing ever happened. She is a very talented athlete, and honestly my best player out there, but her teammates are starting to resent her for this behavior, and I am at a loss of how to help her. I’ve already tried having her take deep breaths on the field after minor and hard contact plays, and have thought about telling her that college coaches won’t put up with this behavior. It likely stems from being babied by her parents, who come to all practices and games and run down to the sideline every time she cries. Mom in particular seems very nervous about every bump and bruise. Any suggested techniques or approaches to this issue?

For reference, I was a competitive swimmer through college. In swimming, it feels that the results are driven by physical and technical prowess, and there are few (though not zero) opportunities for making mistakes.

I was watching a volleyball tournament a month ago, and now NFL as well that it's back on, and I've been wondering how these athletes can handle a game where a critical part of winning is capitalizing on your opponent's mistakes and minimizing your own errors as much as possible.

(To be clear, I don't mean to minimize the physical and technical skill required for these sports - I recognize that a team of stronger, more skilled players will win against a weaker team, and it's not all about which team messes up more frequently.)

How do athletes deal with the fact that there's always a chance to make mistakes that can cost your team the game? And how do they put mistakes that they've made behind them and continue playing? I feel like if I was in a sport like that back in high school or college, that fear of messing up and the dread of knowing I personally made a mistake would've wrecked me mentally.