Coach Webinar Series #1: SUPPORTING PLAYERS BETWEEN GAMES – TOOLS FOR CALM, CLARITY & CONFIDENCE

FREE COACH WEBINAR #1: Took place on December on 17th with Jesse Engelbrecht, former pro and founder of SportMind, for “Supporting Players Between Games – Tools for Calm, Clarity, & Confidence”.

• TO WATCH THE RECORDING OF THE OUR FIRST COACH WEBINAR CLICK HERE.
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KEY TAKEWAYS

• Prioritize State Over Tactics: A player in “survival brain” (fight/flight) cannot process tactical advice. The primary goal is to shift them to “flow brain” (calm/problem-solving) first.
• Use the ABC Loop: A rapid reset framework: Accept the situation, Breathe with a physiological sigh, and give one Courageous Action.
• Master Coach Presence: Your calm energy is your most powerful tool. Avoid “pressure words” (need, should, must, have) and reframe pressure as a privilege.
• Focus on the Next Rally: Keep cues simple, present-focused, and actionable. Confidence is built by repeating courageous actions under pressure, not by eliminating fear.

TOPICS

THE CHALLENGE STATE VS SKILL

• Problem: Players often perform well in training but struggle under pressure.
• Root Cause: A shift in their mental state, not a loss of skill.
• Coach’s Role: Help players reset their state to reconnect with their training.

TWO BRAIN STATES

SURVIVAL VS FLOW

• Survival Brain (Amygdala): Fight, flight, or freeze.
  • Cues: Fast, shallow breathing; glassy eyes; frantic body language; blaming/complaining.
  • Impact: Shuts down the prefrontal cortex → prevents tactical processing.
• Flow Brain (Prefrontal Cortex): Calm, problem-solving.
  • Cues: Slow, calm breathing; grounded posture; clear answers.
  • Impact: Enables clear thinking, adaptability, and access to training.

THE ABC LOOP: A RAPID RESET FRAMEWORK

• A – Accept: Normalize emotions to reduce shame and defensiveness.
  • Phrases: “That game was tough, it’s okay.” “Nerves mean you care.”
• B – Breathe: Use the physiological sigh to rapidly shift state.
  • Technique: Double nasal inhale → long, slow exhale. Repeat 2-3 times.
  • Rationale: Lowers heart rate, clears CO2, and calms the emotional brain.
• C – Courageous Action: Give one simple, strategic, present-focused instruction.
  • Rationale: Overloading with tactics causes paralysis. Confidence is built by repeating courageous actions under pressure.
  • Example Cues: “Win the length battle first.” “Look for the volley.” “Hold your position on the tee.”

COACH PRESENCE & LANGUAGE

• Coach Presence: Your energy is contagious.
  • Goal: Be the calmest person in the room.
  • Cues: Relaxed shoulders, steady voice, open body language.
• Language: Words create state.
  • Avoid “Pressure Words”: need, should, must, have. They trigger threat responses.
  • Use Empowering Alternatives: get, can, choose. They frame actions as opportunities.

REFRAMING PRESSURE & FINDING JOY

• Pressure as Privilege: Reframe high stakes as an opportunity to apply training. The real enemies are ego, fear, and outcome obsession.
• The Alcaraz Smile: Smiling signals safety to the brain, which can help manage nerves and unlock peak performance.

Q&A SCENARIOS

• Team Coaching: For school teams, focus on teaching simple tools like breathing and one-cue tactical prompts.
• Parental Influence: Direct parents to the US Squash parent workshops on squasheducation.org to align on messaging and reduce pressure.
• Multiple Coaches/Parents: Set clear boundaries and operating procedures beforehand. In-game, use a simple, present-focused phrase like, “Do the best you can with what you’ve got, where you are.”
• Parent-Coach Role: Prioritize the parent role (reassurance) over the coach role (tactics). Collaborate with the child to create a pre-game “obstacle/solution” list to build security.