Competing Under Pressure: Dan Abrahams on Building a Mental Playbook for Performance
Episode 98, Apr 01, 05:00 PM
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On this episode of the Inside College Soccer Podcast, Don Williams sits down with leading sports psychologist Dan Abrahams to break down his new 2026 book Compete: Developing a Mental Playbook for Performance Under Pressure in Sport.
Dan shares practical, game-ready tools designed to help athletes perform when it matters most. The conversation dives into:
- The High Performance Mindset (HPM) - how athletes can control attention, intensity, and intent in pressure moments
- The Elite Competitor Model - building a proactive, purposeful approach to performance
- The Mindset Scale - a simple but powerful tool athletes can use mid-game to reset and refocus
- Mental Playbook strategies - managing nerves, frustration, and mistakes while developing a “go again” mentality
- In-game routines & confidence tools - how to build consistency and “bulletproof” belief
This episode is a must-listen for players, parents, and coaches navigating high-pressure environments - especially those pursuing the U.S. college pathway, where mindset is often the difference-maker.
📚 Pre-order the book via Hawksmoor Publishing or Amazon
➡️ Learn more: www.danabrahams.com