Coaches' Questions: Team Cohesion and Mental Training
Can mental training help with team cohesion? Is it necessary to work on the mental side with the whole team?
Mental training sessions are usually individual and tailored to the athlete's needs. The work is focused on the athlete during the session: a dedicated time that specifically helps them prepare mentally for events and develop their mental skills.
But one of the aspects that is worked on systematically (even when the focus seems to be elsewhere) is confidence. More precisely, what I call "just-right confidence", which allows the athlete to face new situations, adversity, the need to improve, to fight for their place on the team, (...) and to put their abilities and skills at the service of their performance and of the team.
That confidence is an asset for the player — but not only for them. Confidence is positively contagious. When an athlete/player is centered, confident and present in the moment — mentally ready — it benefits the whole team. It helps teammates. When one of your players is "fired up" they pass some of that self-belief on to their teammates.
Athletes' Questions
When is the right time in the season to start mental training?
The reflex (perhaps a very French one?) is to think about mental training after a poor performance or failure. Do we forget the word "preparation" in favour of "mental"? In any case I keep repeating it: mental training is best done beforehand. Do you start your physical preparation in the middle of the season? Probably not. The same goes for the mind.
That doesn't mean it's a bad idea to start during the season. But everything that is worked on and acquired at the start of the season is time gained to get into the season well — and therefore to benefit the season as a whole.
Parents' Questions
At what age can a young athlete begin mental training sessions?
The answer can depend on the sport and the level of competition. For early-specialization sports like figure skating or other sports with very short careers, mental training clearly becomes necessary for very young athletes. Learning to manage emotions, stress, techniques of relaxation, letting go, concentration (...) is almost indispensable.
How does it work?
My priority is that the young athlete genuinely chooses to trust their mental performance coach. Of course parents contact me, but I ask them to check with their child:
- that they feel ready to work to improve mentally
- that the sessions suit them and are beneficial
- that they want to work with me
As for the number of sessions and their frequency, that depends on several factors: the young athlete's maturity, level of competition, the approach of competitions, etc.
Sessions for under‑13s last about 30–35 minutes, excluding any debrief with parents. Children learn quickly. Depending on expectations and competition level, I generally recommend no more than 3 to 5 sessions in this age group.