The competition didn't go as you hoped.
You've just experienced an underperformance: a result below your usual level, whether the gap is small or significant.
What you're feeling right now is probably disappointment, frustration, maybe even anger… But above all, a big question:
Does this underperformance really reflect my level? Am I able to reproduce in competition what I manage to do in training?
These are questions many athletes ask themselves after an underperformance.
The role of the mental coach
The work of the mental coach is to understand what happened — on the mental, emotional and behavioral levels, but also by widening the perspective at times:
Physical preparation, nutrition, hydration, sleep… the fundamentals of performance.
What if this underperformance became the opportunity for a breakthrough? A chance to seek more consistency, to reach new levels, to progress mentally, to learn to manage your emotions and to better prepare your competitions?
Together, we do a complete assessment. We debrief, highlight what played out, and build your progression toward your next successes.
Transform the experience
People often say: "It's not a failure, it's an experience." That's true — if you ask the right questions and take action. And some of those actions are mental.
This is where mental training comes in: not to erase the disappointment, but to transform this moment. To put it into perspective, regain confidence, and get back into a dynamic of success.
Beware of someone who takes a step back… they may be gathering momentum.
That's exactly the purpose of the work we do together:
Understand the underperformance to better bounce back
We observe that some failures occur precisely at the moment when everything seems ready to succeed. It's not a lack of work or will, but an inner interference: fear of judgment, apprehension about success, emotional fatigue, or simply a saturated mind.
The body executes what the mind allows. That's why understanding an underperformance often means decoding a message from the body. A tension, a fear or an emotion poorly processed can block the expression of the talent.
In those moments, an approach of depolarization helps move away from the binary pattern "I succeed / I fail" to recover fluidity. We no longer try to force, but to reconcile the parts of yourself that pull in opposite directions.
When do underperformances appear?
They often occur at a career turning point: change of club, an important selection, injury, a new role in a team, or moving to another age category.
Frequent fears:
- The fear of failure - Fear of not being up to the task
- The fear of success - Fear of what victory might change
- The fear of winning or of losing - A common paradox
Triggering contexts:
- Change of club or team
- New role or responsibilities
- Moving up an age category
- Return after injury
The mental training: a tool for all ages and all contexts
The work I offer is for anyone who wants to understand, progress and regain meaning in performance:
By context:
In my office in Rennes or remotely, in France and internationally
Mental training sessions can take place in my office in Rennes, in a calm and confidential setting, or remotely via videoconference, anywhere in France and in French-speaking countries. The results are the same: progress, increased awareness and consistency.
Ready to transform this experience?
Want to understand what happened and bounce back stronger? Book an initial session, or choose the session pack that best fits your situation.
An underperformance says nothing about your worth. It only reveals that an internal readjustment is necessary.
Together, we can decode its meaning, release what is blocking and rediscover the joy of performing.