Your Athlete’s Mindset Matters. I’m Here to Help Them Build Confidence That Lasts.
Trusted by national programs, elite youth organizations, and families who want their athletes to thrive—in and out of the game.
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Official Mental Skills Coach for USA Hockey’s National Development Program
Mindset Coach for the Jr. Ducks & Lady Ducks Organizations
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Meet Your Coach
Danielle McDonough, M.A. Sport & Exercise Psychology
Mindset Optimization Coach | Author | Former Division I & Professional Athlete
If you’re here, you’re likely looking for meaningful support for your athlete—and you’re in the right place.
Danielle is a nationally recognized Mindset Optimization Coach who helps athletes build confidence, handle pressure, bounce back from setbacks, and perform at their full potential. She has spent nearly two decades coaching athletes and parents through the mental demands of today’s fast-paced, high-pressure youth sports landscape.
Danielle currently serves as the official Mental Skills Coach for USA Hockey’s National Development Program, as well as the Mindset Coach for the Jr. Ducks and Lady Ducks organizations, where she supports athletes, parents, and coaches throughout the season.
A former Division I and professional hockey player herself, Danielle understands exactly what today’s athletes are navigating. With a master’s degree in Sport & Exercise Psychology and more than 20 years of combined mindset and hockey coaching experience, she blends firsthand athletic insight with practical, evidence-based strategies athletes can use right away.
She is also the best-selling author of The Empowered Athlete, written to help athletes—and the parents supporting them—navigate confidence, identity, and the mental side of competitive sport.
Danielle lives in Yorba Linda, CA with her husband and two children, who are discovering their own unique paths in sport—trying new things, having fun, and learning the value of movement and play along the way.
Click to read Danielle’s full story and coaching backgroundWhy Mental Skills Training Matters Now More Than Ever
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Today’s athletes are facing more pressure than ever. The youth sports industry is rapidly growing toward a $70 billion market—bringing earlier specialization, higher expectations, constant comparison, and intense year-round competition.
And the impact is real:
70% of youth athletes quit sports by age 13, most due to pressure, burnout, and stress.
Anxiety and depression diagnoses in children have risen nearly 30% in recent years.
Suicide is now the second leading cause of death among collegiate athletes.
And yet… most athletes receive little to no training in the mental skills required to handle that pressure.
Sport psychology helps athletes handle this pressure in a healthy, sustainable way.
Instead of focusing only on the physical side, mental skills training teaches athletes how to:
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manage nerves and stress
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bounce back after mistakes
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build real confidence and self-trust
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stay focused under pressure
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enjoy their sport again
At the highest levels, mental preparation can account for 80–90% of performance success. Athletes who train their mind don’t just play better—they stay more consistent, more resilient, and more mentally healthy over time, in AND out of the game.
Learn more about what Mental Skills Training is (and what it's NOT) here.A Program for Every Athlete
No matter your budget or what level your athlete plays at, we believe every student-athlete family deserves to have mental performance training to support their goals in sports and life.
Live Coaching
Learn about opportunities to get coached by Coach Danielle inside our signature Mental Muscles Group Program, or join our Elite Athlete training for athletes looking to play collegiate sports.
Family Mental Muscles Membership
Your family's playbook for surviving the emotional up's and down's of the youth sports journey. This membership was designed for athletes and parents, empowering parents with the tools and knowledge to confidently support your athletes throughout the youth sports journey, fostering success for your entire family.
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Athlete to Athlete Mentorship ProgramÂ
Our Mentorship Program connects young athletes with experienced mentors who have successfully navigated the highs and lows of competitive sports. Â
Self-Paced Courses
If your athlete is self-motivated and is looking to learn the skills needed to build their mental muscles, these self-paced options are for the athletes who would do better doing it on their own. We also have a training program specifically for parents, learn more below.
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Elite Athlete Mentorship Program
If you're a Sophomore or older entering the recruiting process to play collegiate level sports, I offer an Elite Coaching & Mentorship Program designed to support you (and your parents) during this process.
Team Training
Looking for support for your team? I offer customized training to help meet the needs of your team. Contact me so we can chat more about how we can support your team!
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Get mentally fit, not just for the sport, but for life.
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Athletes and families need the right support to build and maintain their "mental muscles" both inside their sports, but also in life. Our goal is to help athletes build these skills, develop them, and implement them so they can literally be the best they can be.
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