Skadi Sport Psychology | Mental Health & Performance for Athletes

Will I ever get my fire back? When athletes lose their competitive fire.

When racing doesn't feel the same anymore

Hi Reader,If you’re like other athletes and coaches I’ve been working with lately, your relationship with competition might be changing. And if that’s freaking you out a little, you’re definitely not alone. 😅Over the past few years, I’ve been navigating some of my own shifts in the cycling space. I used to LOVE working toward higher power numbers and upgrade points. I loved the process of traveling for races, combing through my results and the results of my competitors, and strategizing races...

1 day ago • 3 min read

how athletes can use fear and anxiety to perform better

"What if fear isn't the problem?"

Hi Reader!Let me guess. You’ve got a big race or performance coming up, and the anxiety is already creeping in. You’re lying awake at night running through all the what-ifs.😵💫What if my training wasn’t enough?😵💫What if I blow my pacing strategy?😵💫What if I completely fall apart when it matters most?And somewhere in the back of your mind, there’s this quiet voice saying: “If I were more mentally tough, I wouldn’t feel this way.”Yeah. I know that voice well. 😅Here at Skadi, we often refer to...

8 days ago • 2 min read

Understanding Adversity in Sport-How different response styles make your team stronger

Graduating, growing, and why silence doesn't mean apathy

Hi Reader,Happy May! Competitive season is in full swing, and we've got some genuinely exciting updates to share from the Skadi HQ. (Spoiler: graduations, transitions, a new intern, and one research-backed insight that might just save your team chemistry this season.)Let's dive in. 👇🏻 🎉 Exciting Team Updates 🎓Huge congratulations to Laurie!Laurie graduates with her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling this week and will be joining our team full-time beginning May 25th. Her...

15 days ago • 3 min read

Creating Real Support Systems for Trans and Non-Binary Athletes

Beyond rainbow logos and Pride posts 🌈

Hi Reader,If there’s anything I’ve learned about being a psychologist over the past decade, it’s the importance of leaning into difficult and taboo conversations with compassion and curiosity. I’ve been getting a lot of questions lately about my thoughts regarding the IOC’s latest trans athlete policy, which has sparked more social media debates and opinions about whether it’s appropriate. One thing that I’ve been stressing a lot during my conversations has been the importance of the...

22 days ago • 2 min read

5 Shifts that keep teen girls engaged in mountain biking: A coach's guide

"You ride just like one of the guys!" (Why this compliment backfires)

Hi Reader,I’ve been passionate about understanding the experiences of girls and women since my undergrad days at St. Kate’s, where I took my first women’s studies course. Little did I know that a decade later, I’d be racing bikes in a sport with only 5-15% women—or that I’d eventually become a sport psychologist specializing in female athletes.When you combine all of these interests and experiences, I get really excited to talk about this work. Because here’s what I see all the time in my...

29 days ago • 2 min read

Size Inclusion in Endurance Sports: Creating Communities where every athlete belongs

Every body is an athlete's body

Hey there,You’ve been training consistently for months. Early morning workouts? Check. ✅ Long runs on the weekend? Done. ✅ You’ve put in the miles, the intervals, the recovery sessions. You’re committed to your sport.Here’s what is also true for a number of athletes:👉🏻They’ve spent hours trying to find gear that actually fits their body.👉🏻They’ve had someone assume they’re “just starting out” based on how they look, even though they’ve been racing for years.👉🏻They’ve scrolled through race...

about 1 month ago • 3 min read

performing under pressure: the science of clutch performance for athletes

Is pressure sabotaging your race?

Hi Reader,Race season is upon us! You can almost feel that collective flutter—late-night gear checks, start lists filling up, nerves kicking in, and group chats lighting up with “ready?” and “see you at the line?” messages.There’s something special when everyone’s prepping for the early season races. It’s a mix of nerves and anticipation, excitement and doubt—maybe even a little drama with the weather or mud (looking at you, Mid South).Racing always brings a mix of high highs and challenging...

about 1 month ago • 2 min read

Feelings of Never Being Enough: A Guide to Perfectionism for Athletes

Perfectionism: Your Secret Weapon or Silent Saboteur?

Hi Reader,Calling all perfectionists in the house! For so many athletes, perfectionism feels like both a blessing and a curse. It’s what gets you out of bed for those early morning workouts. It’s what pushes you to dig deep when your legs are screaming to stop.It has a lot of different forms, and has created some interesting debates in the sport psychology world (good? bad? both?), but if there's anything I've learned, it's definitely a personality trait that you can't simply turn off. No one...

about 2 months ago • 2 min read

Self Compassion for Athletes how to navigate negative self-talk

The Inner Critic: Friend or Foe?

Hi Reader,You know that voice in your head after a bad race, a missed shot, or a tough training session?The one that says: "You’re not good enough." "You’ll never make it." "Everyone else is better than you." Yeah, that one. It’s brutal, isn’t it?If you’ve ever caught yourself spiraling into harsh self-criticism, you’re not alone. Negative self-talk is one of the most common mental barriers athletes face.And here's the weird part. The inner critic is not making you better. It’s holding you...

about 2 months ago • 1 min read

Calling All High School coaches! Is Your Team Culture Helping or Hurting?

Hi Reader,Let’s be real—coaching high school athletes is about so much more than training plans and race-day strategies.It’s about those moments that keep you up at night. Like when your top athlete pulls out of a race with a “stomachache” that’s really about anxiety. Or when you overhear a joke and wonder if your team culture is unintentionally pushing athletes away.Sound familiar? Your role as a coach goes far beyond teaching technical skills or improving race times. You’re shaping the...

2 months ago • 2 min read