Welcome back to our two-part series on mental strategies for high-pressure events. In Part One, we explored four foundational tools for athletes: trusting the process, staying in the present moment, reframing nerves as readiness, and controlling what you can.
In this second installment, we’ll build on that foundation. We’ll explore four additional mental skills – growth mindset, mindfulness, finding balance, and prioritizing process over outcome – and how athletes at the world stage use them to stay composed, resilient, and at their best when it counts most.
Embracing a Growth Mindset
Elite athletes make mistakes. They miss plays. They get scored on. The key difference between average and exceptional is how they respond when things do not go as planned.
We encourage a growth mindset in every setting. That means seeing challenges as chances to grow, staying open to feedback, and learning from each experience. The best athletes are the ones who adapt, adjust, and continue improving over time. This mindset fuels progress and builds resilience.
Mindfulness for Performance
Throughout the tournament, we offered mindfulness sessions for players and staff the night before big games. These sessions helped people calm their minds and bodies while preparing for what was ahead.
Some sessions focused on diaphragmatic breathing, which supports relaxation by stimulating the vagus nerve. Others guided athletes through sport-specific visualizations. These visualizations walked them through real game scenarios and helped them mentally prepare for things like missed shots or quick recoveries. Whether someone was new to meditation or practiced it daily, these sessions gave them practical tools to manage pressure and build awareness.
Finding Balance Off the Ice
It is easy to think that elite athletes are locked into their sport every waking hour, especially during a three week tournament. But mental recovery is just as important as physical preparation.
During downtime, the team made a point to step away from hockey. They completed five puzzles back at the hotel—most of them over one thousand pieces. Athletes, staff, and coaches would gather around the puzzle table to relax, talk, and share space without the weight of competition. Others worked on school assignments or found time to rest. These moments of normalcy helped the team stay grounded and mentally fresh.
Process Over Outcome
In competitive environments, it is tempting to get caught up in scores, stats, and media attention. But the best teams are the ones who stay connected to what really drives results—the process.
This team is deeply committed to their culture. They focus on daily actions, from watching film and doing drills to fueling their bodies and showing up for mental skills sessions. They do not panic when things do not go their way. When Czechia scored the first goal in the semifinal game, the team stayed calm. When Canada tied the gold medal game, they remained composed. They trusted their training and stayed present.
They did what they always do. And it worked.
Closing Thoughts
Performing well in high pressure events is not about being perfect. It is about being prepared. It is about having a mental game plan that supports confidence, focus, and resilience. At Premier Sport Psychology, we help athletes develop the tools to compete with purpose and clarity, no matter the circumstances.
From the loudest arenas to the quietest moments before the puck drops, the mental skills athletes bring with them make all the difference.
Because pressure does not define performance – preparation does.
