This summer I was asked to join the Canadian Women’s Floorball Team as their mental coach. It was an honour to volunteer and work with the team and coaching staff during the training camp, and the 2025 AMER qualification games against the US.
My initial focus was on their self-confidence in performance situations. They were given worksheets, based on Cognitive Behavioural Coaching (CBC), beforehand to look closer at their thoughts, feelings, behaviours (actions), and physical (bodily) reactions in certain performance situations. They were asked to reflect on three performance situations.
When they have been less successful in handling a stressful or high-pressure situation on, or off, the field.
When their game/performance has been affected negatively due to a drop in self-confidence.
When they have been successful in handling a stressful or high-pressure situation on, or off, the field, or when their game/performance has been affected positively due to an increase in your self-confidence.
We started the mental training portion of the training camp with a workshop about our “tricky brains” and the three emotional regulation systems (threat, drive, and calming systems) which interact with each other during game/performance situations. As a group, we discussed the worksheets (I know…..they actually did them beforehand. I’m not used to that 😉) and focused on positive strategies to increase performance and self-confidence.
motivational interviewing and floorball
After that, I offered individual coaching sessions to every player who wanted one to look deeper into their performance situations and discuss helpful strategies to increase performance. The sessions were based on Cognitive Behavioural Coaching (CBC), and of course, Motivational Interviewing (MI).
This is when things got real, and the focus deepened to handling feelings of inadequacy, imposter syndrome, low self-esteem, fear or letting others down, and anxiety. I knew that playing for a team at this level would be tough but the amount of pressure these amazing humans carried on their shoulders was enormous. And they ROCKED it!!!
motivational interviewing and floorball
They demonstrated mental strength, focus, determination, resilience, adaptability, compassion, empathy, leadership, athleticism, passion, positivity, and sportsmanship. These women SOARED! I am so proud of them and proud to have been invited along on their journey. Thank you to the Canadian National Senior Women’s Floorball Team for giving me the opportunity to see you #rollmaple!
motivational interviewing and floorball
PS – They won against the US and will represent Canada at The World Games in Chengdu, China in August 2025. Congrats ladies! motivational interviewing and floorball
motivational interviewing and floorball
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