by Andrew Bednarzik | Feb 23, 2026 | Sports Psychology and Performance
The Secret Sauce Was Identity Alysa Liu won the U.S. Championship at 13. Competed in the Olympics. Retired three months later due to burnout and loss of passion. For nearly two years, she stepped away from competitive skating. She went to UCLA. Learned to drive....
by Andrew Bednarzik | Feb 19, 2026 | Sports Psychology and Performance
The Pressure Is Real — And No One Is Immune The Winter Olympics in Milan are in full swing, and there are two US athletes who have caught my attention. Mikaela Shiffrin.Ilia Malinin. The best in their sport. The best in the world. And still — human. We often imagine...
by Andrew Bednarzik | Feb 9, 2026 | Sports Psychology and Performance
When Mike Macdonald, head coach of the Seattle Seahawks, addressed his team at the start of the season, he didn’t begin with tactics or expectations. He began with this: “I need to get better at public speaking.” He admitted he hadn’t handled media well the previous...
by Andrew Bednarzik | Feb 4, 2026 | Sports Psychology and Performance
Why Team Culture Determines Who Wins Under Pressure “When people have to manage dangers from inside the team, the team becomes less able to face dangers from outside.” — Simon Sinek, Leaders Eat Last I come back to this quote often because it explains something I see...
by Andrew Bednarzik | Jan 26, 2026 | Sports Psychology and Performance
Last week, we discussed the psychological effects of injuries on athletes that can derail an athlete’s rehabilitation process. The next question athletes, coaches, or parents ask is – what can I do manage or minimize these negative effects? Research shows that a...
by Andrew Bednarzik | Jan 19, 2026 | Sports Psychology and Performance
Injuries are the low points of athletes’ careers. Beyond the physical effects of an injury – pain, restricted movement, loss of strength – there are layers to the psychological effects. Athletes are creatures of habit and routine. They get used to the patterns of...
