Before You Build a Program, Decide What One Problem It’s Solving
The advantage to programs that have a single focus
QUOTE
“Most programs don’t fail because they’re missing content.
They fail because they’re trying to do too much at once.”
OBSERVATION
Most performance programs start with good intentions.
We want to address confidence, focus, emotions, preparation, reflection.
We want to anticipate what athletes might need. This is a good thing to anticipate, after all if its a program you want to stand alone, you need to anticipate questions.
So we add.
The result is often a program that looks comprehensive BUT FEELS HEAVEY TO THE ATHLETES.
Athletes struggle to keep up.
Coaches aren’t sure what to emphasize.
And the work starts to feel like a lift instead of support.
What’s usually missing isn’t effort or expertise.
It’s a clear decision about what this program is actually responsible for right now.
For example:
Is this program meant to help an athlete stay focused under pressure?
Is it meant to help them manage emotional spikes during competition?
Is it meant to improve recall and recognition during film study?
When programs try to solve all of these at once, they rarely solve any of them well.
ACTIONABLE INSIGHT
Before building or revising a program, decide the one problem it’s being asked to address.
Don’t lead with:
“What skills should this include?”
But instead lead with:
“What should this athlete be able to do more consistently by the end?”
If the answer is:
Stay focused when emotions rise,
then emotion regulation and attention get priority. Everything else becomes secondary.
If the answer is:
Recognize patterns faster during film study,
then memory, recall, and decision recognition guide the design.
Once that decision is clear, the program naturally gets simpler.
Content becomes easier to select.
And athletes know what they’re actually working toward.
If a program feels complex, well…you know the rest.
Want more clarity and confidence in your work? Check out the support options at the mental performance institute.
Less theory, more practice.
Flexible, monthly advising plans
Take home Toolkits
CMPC Mentorship
This is very helpful! Thank you.