Remote vs in-person mental training: what real impact on performance?
This question comes up again and again with athletes, parents, coaches and elite organizations: Is a remote mental training session as effective as an in-person one?
My professional, honest and field-tested answer is yes.
👉 Different in form, equivalent in substance and in results.
Two formats, one goal: help the athlete progress sustainably
Whether the session takes place:
- in the office,
- at the club,
- at a regional development or national training centre,
- at home,
- or remotely (phone and video conference),
👉 the core work remains exactly the same: a detailed understanding of the athlete's functioning, removing mental barriers, emotional regulation, and performance improvement.
Mental training isn't an isolated technique. It's a holistic form of support, serving the athlete's double/triple project: sporting, academic and personal.
👉 The difference isn't in the effectiveness of the mental work, but in logistical and organizational aspects.
1. Time saved (no travel)
2. Accessible everywhere
Whether the athlete is:
- traveling,
- at a training camp,
- at a competition,
- abroad,
- or geographically distant,
👉 the session can be maintained without interrupting ongoing follow-up. Even when the athlete is ill or injured.
3. Easier to stay consistent
In mental training as in any training, consistency matters more than the format.
4. Confidentiality
5. A framework well suited to parents
- no travel required,
- no extra scheduling constraints,
- easier conversations before or after the session if needed.
👉 The work is effective at all ages, from children to established adult athletes.
What doesn't change at all
Whether remote or in person, the work focuses on:
- the self-confidence,
- the stress management and emotions,
- the competitive pressure,
- the motivation,
- the concentration and flow,
- the cognitive biases and depolarization,
- the fear of winning and losing,
- the progression toward the elite level,
- the depolarization,
- breaking through performance plateaus.
👉 The content, method and standards remain exactly the same and apply to:
- young athletes,
- athletes in regional development and national training centres,
- elite athletes,
- adults seeking sustainable performance.
My approach is holistic and draws on:
- transactional analysis,
- NLP,
- hypnosis,
- the explicitation interview,
- performance coaching.
What I've observed since 2011
- In-person and remote are two effective formats.
- Differences are minimal in substance.
- The benefits for confidence, stress, emotions, concentration and performance are equivalent. I work with skiers—they tell me so—and with professional coaches in handball and tennis.
- Remote work actually offers great flexibility, promotes continuity and, of course, confidentiality.
👉 The goal remains the same: to help the athlete, regardless of age, better understand themselves, self-regulate, and perform with greater accuracy and enjoyment.
- Cognitive → how I understand what's happening to me
- Emotional → how I experience what's happening to me
- Attentional → where my focus goes when it counts
- Motivational → how I sustain commitment over time