Tami Matheny — Mental Game Coach
As we kick off our Mental Performance Series this week, we wanted to share this conversation from our National High School Tennis Coaches Conference with one of our longtime friends and supporters of Sport Fuels Life, Tami Matheny.
About the Episode
Tami Matheny is helping athletes and coaches develop the mental skills needed to perform when it matters most.
With a background as a college tennis coach and years spent working across sports, Tami now focuses on the mental side of performance — helping athletes and coaches perform the way they’re capable of when the pressure is highest.
In this conversation, she breaks down what “mental coaching” really means in practical terms: how athletes talk to themselves, how coaches communicate, and how small daily habits shape performance. From managing pressure in competition to navigating parents, team dynamics, and confidence struggles, this is a playbook for building stronger competitors.
We’re featuring Tami because her approach is directly actionable for coaches and athletes. It’s practical, relatable, and centered around what you say, what you focus on, and how you show up every day.
This episode is about awareness, communication, and playing it forward — giving athletes tools they can carry long after the match is over.
Top 5 Takeaways
Your Thoughts Are Trainable — Just Like Your Body
Mental performance isn’t random. With consistent reps — like rewriting negative thoughts — athletes can build stronger, more productive thinking patterns.
What You Focus on Grows
Whether it’s heat, pressure, or mistakes, attention amplifies it. The best athletes learn to direct their focus intentionally.
Communication Is a Skill — Not a Personality Trait
Great coaching isn’t just instruction. It’s connection, clarity, and knowing what each athlete needs in different moments.
Confidence Needs Tools — Not Just Words
Telling an athlete to “be confident” isn’t enough. They need specific strategies to build and access confidence under pressure.
Consistency Beats Intensity in the Mental Game
Small daily habits — even five minutes — create lasting change far more than occasional motivation.
Going Deeper
What does an athlete need before their match? During? After?
These are key questions that Tami Matheny believes coaches and parents should ask players throughout the process. Speaking from her experiences as both an athlete and a coach, Tami shared:
“I need to process it immediately. Others need to be left alone.” — Tami Matheny
There is no right or wrong, as each player processes emotions and competition differently. It’s a simple adjustment that coaches and parents can make to better support athletes throughout training and competition.
Tami also emphasized the importance of leading by example:
“Model what you want. And make sure it’s not just words, that you’re living it as well.” — Tami Matheny
Stay Connected with Tami Matheny:
Website: tamimatheny.com
Instagram: @tamimathenycoaching
X: @tamimatheny
Linkedin: Tami Matheny
