The Other Side of the Game: Why Your Mindset Matters Just as Much as Your Muscles
When people talk about what it takes to succeed in sports, the usual suspects come up: strength, speed, discipline, and hours in the gym. But here’s the truth—we’re missing a huge part of the picture if we don’t talk about what’s going on between your ears.
As mental health coaches for the Brampton Honey Badgers, we’ve had the privilege of supporting athletes who are pushing the limits of what’s possible. We’ve worked with players who are physically dialed in—but still hit walls. Not because they weren’t strong enough. But because life off the court was catching up to them. Because pressure started to outweigh passion. Because they needed space to be human first, and athlete second.
Let’s be real—there’s no “off switch” for what’s happening in your personal life, your emotions, or your mindset when you step onto the court. You bring your full self to every practice, every game, every rep. And that full self is made up of way more than just your stats.
We’ve seen how mental health plays a direct role in performance:
It helps you bounce back after a tough loss
Stay focused when the shot clock’s ticking down
Keep your confidence steady through a shooting slump
And most importantly, keep showing up with purpose and presence
Even the most elite players aren’t immune to stress, self-doubt, or burnout. But those who make time to check in with themselves mentally? They gain something even more powerful than physical endurance—they gain self-awareness. And self-awareness builds resilience.
Here's one simple habit that makes a big difference: check in with yourself. Seriously, it takes less than a minute. After a practice or before a game, ask yourself:
How am I really feeling today?
What do I need to bring my best self to this game?
What am I proud of lately?
What can I grow from next time?
These questions aren't fluff—they're fuel. They help you stay grounded, improve your focus, and connect back to why you play in the first place.
Mental health isn’t extra—it’s essential. It’s what helps you go the distance in a season, and in your career. The more we normalize caring for our minds the way we care for our bodies, the more we build not just better athletes—but better humans.
So yeah, train hard. Watch films. Lift heavy. But don’t forget the one thing you’ll bring with you to every single game for the rest of your life—your mindset. Take care of it.
- Rammy Dhatt