Gain the Mental Edge

Are you interested in building a true championship team? For over a decade Optimal Performance Associates has been dedicated to helping athletes and teams perform to their maximum potential. We have facilitated hundreds of workshops for collegiate and high school athletic programs, including State, Conference, and National Championship Teams.

Talent alone is not the only key to winning. Team chemistry is critical to building a championship caliber team. OPA will customize and facilitate a team-building workshop or a series of workshops that will give coaches and players the insights and strategies for developing a championship team. Our dynamic team-building and peak performance workshops are based on adventure-based team building and sport psychology. Our highly innovative team-building workshops will include initiatives and activities that will enhance:

• Target and achieve goals
• Develop a winning mindset
• Perform with self-confidence
• Sharpen your focus and concentration
• Overcome obstacles and adversity
• Gain control of negative emotions and thoughts
• Use visualization to achieve success
• Employ stress management and relaxation techniques

This workshop is definitely our most popular workshops for Division I - III athletic programs, SAAC Groups, Athletic Conferences, and Coaching Organizations. Created by OPA Co-Partner, Mr. Keith Waldman, the OPA Raising the Bar program is one of our most dynamic, exciting, and fun programs for student-athletes and coaches. This team-building/sport psychology workshop explores the specific principles and building blocks of high performing athletic teams. Each participant attending this workshop will experience hands-on and dynamic team building activities while learning the tangible skills that build mental toughness. This workshop will focus on the following principles:

• High Performing Teamwork
• Leadership
• Positive Communication
• Team Support
• Risk Taking
• Taking Accountability

• Building Trust & Commitment
• Playing Through Mistakes & Adversity
• Competition & Collaboration
• Confident Mindset & Focus
• Build a Team Mission & Goal Setting
• Appreciation of Team Roles

Our Team Olympic programs are a fast-paced, non-stop day or half day of fun, competition, and team building. This exciting workshop will enhance the camaraderie and building of relationships among your student athletes. By working in small teams each student-athlete will have the opportunity to work with student-athletes from other sports teams. The program will kickoff with fun and competitive relays, warm ups, and tag games. Each Olympic Team will be engaged in a series of mental, physical, and creative challenges that will capitalize on collaboration and teamwork. Points are awarded for each Team Olympic Event. Teams will vie back and forth for the top place finishes - and the medals and bragging rights that go along with it.

You can take this program to another level by having OPA train your student-athlete leaders to co-lead this workshop. Prior to the Team Olympics we will train your student-athlete leaders on how to lead each team building event. This is a wonderful opportunity for your student-athlete leaders to connect with their fellow student-athletes while working on their own leadership skills.

Program Length: 2 hours, Half-day, Full day
Program Size: 15 - 1000

Leadership is not only about what you do, it's about who you are. And it's also about leading and influencing others to make good things happen. This hands-on workshop is custom designed for college and high school athletic departments. Student-athletes will have the opportunity to practice the necessary mental and social skills to be an effective leader. This workshop includes highly engaging team-building activities that will help each student-athlete gain insight into effective leadership styles and to learn the tools to become an effective leader. Topics addressed: Maintaining team standards, accountability, motivating teammates, strategies on managing team conflict, goal setting, communication, promoting teamwork and peak performance.

• Help you learn how to stay cool, calm, and focused under pressure
• Incorporate the latest stress management techniques that will help you win the mental game of school, sport, and life.
• Use formats that include highly experiential activities that will fully engage your group. 

Program Length: 90 minutes to 3 hours
Program Size: 8- 200

This hands-on workshop is specifically designed for coaches who are committed to improving team atmosphere and the character development of each athlete. Each coach will learn, first hand, specific team building activities and mental skill techniques that will enhance team chemistry, confidence, focus, and mental toughness.