Welcome to Episode 91 of the Dialed and Driven Mentality Podcast: Stop Letting Anxiety Control Your Game.

Every athlete feels pressure.

The nerves before a big game. The fear of making a mistake. The worry about letting your team down.

But what if those nerves could actually help you perform better?

In this episode, Jeff Lerg and mental performance coach Chris Palmer break down why doubt, fear, and anxiety are normal parts of competition—and how athletes can learn to turn that nervous energy into excitement and confidence.

Jeff shares a powerful story from his professional hockey career when he was unexpectedly called into Game 7 of the playoffs after going two months without playing.

With the season on the line, he had to rely on three things:

• Control his breathing
• Focus on what he could control
• Trust his preparation

They also discuss why even the best athletes experience self-doubt, how routines build confidence, and why your mindset can make the difference when the pressure is on.

Because you can't always control the pressure, but you can control how you respond to it.

Episode Highlights:

• Why every athlete experiences doubt, fear, and anxiety
• How to turn pregame nerves into excitement
• Jeff's most nerve-racking moment as a professional goalie
• Why preparation creates confidence under pressure
• How breathing and routines help athletes regain control
• Why focusing on the process improves performance
• How to stop overthinking and trust your training
• Why your worth as an athlete isn't defined by one performance

The biggest message?

Feel the nerves. Trust your preparation. Do your job.

You don't have to eliminate fear to perform at your best.

You just have to learn how to manage it.

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Stay coachable. Stay dialed. Stay driven.

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Welcome to Episode 90 of the Dialed and Driven Mentality Podcast: Want More Playing Time? Become More Coachable.

Talent matters.

But if you want more trust, more responsibility, and more opportunities, you also have to be coachable.

In this episode, Jeff Lerg, Chris Palmer, and Natalie Ferenc break down what being coachable really looks like—and why simply hearing feedback isn’t enough.

You have to:

• Retain it
• Execute it
• Do it consistently

They also discuss how ego can get in the way of growth, why great athletes never stop learning, and why coaches trust the players who prove they can listen and apply what they’re taught.

Because when the game is on the line, coaches want athletes they can count on.

Episode Highlights:

• What being coachable actually means
• Why ego can slow down your growth
• How athletes earn trust from coaches
• Why consistency can lead to more playing time
• The difference between hearing feedback and applying it
• Why great athletes never stop learning
• How to learn even from coaches you don’t always agree with

The biggest message?

Retain. Execute. Be consistent.

You don’t have to be perfect.

You just have to keep learning, applying, and improving.

Stay coachable. Stay dialed. Stay driven.

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Welcome to Episode 89 of the Dialed and Driven Mentality Podcast: Got Benched? Here’s How Great Athletes Respond.

Getting benched can wreck an athlete’s confidence fast.

One minute you’re competing. The next, you’re sitting there wondering:

Why am I not playing?

What did I do wrong?

Does my coach not trust me anymore?

In this episode, Jeff Lerg, Chris Palmer, and Natalie Ferenc break down how athletes should respond when their role gets smaller, their playing time disappears, or a coach makes a decision they don’t agree with.

Because getting benched is frustrating.

But how you respond can say more about you than how you perform when everything is going your way.

Jeff, Chris, and Natalie discuss why athletes need to learn the difference between what they can control and what they can’t.

You may not control the lineup.

You may not control when your number gets called.

You may not even understand why the decision was made.

But you can control your body language, your preparation, your attitude, how you support your teammates, and what you do with your next opportunity.

Natalie also shares her experience as a college goaltender, including playing for a coach who made it clear that allowing four goals could mean getting pulled. Over time, she learned that being taken out wasn’t always about her individual performance—it could also be a way to change the energy of the entire team.

The biggest message?

Getting benched doesn’t have to break your confidence. It can become fuel.

Episode Highlights:

• Why getting benched feels so personal
• What athletes can actually control after losing playing time
• Why your character shows when your role gets smaller
• How bad body language can hurt your next opportunity
• Why great teammates stay engaged even from the bench
• How parents can prepare athletes for reduced playing time
• Why coaches don’t always explain decisions in the moment
• The importance of waiting before confronting a coach
• Why you should never compare yourself to teammates when asking about playing time
• How to ask a coach what you need to improve
• Why getting benched doesn’t mean you aren’t good enough
• How to turn frustration into motivation
• Why every opportunity matters when playing time is limited
• Natalie’s experience getting pulled as a college goalie
• Why being a great teammate is still part of your job
• How high performers respond instead of sulking

AND SO MUCH MORE!

At some point, almost every competitive athlete is going to experience a decision they don’t like.

Someone else gets the opportunity.

Your role changes.

Your playing time disappears.

And your first reaction might be:

This isn’t fair.

But you still have a choice.

You can disconnect, sulk, and wait for someone else to fix it.

Or you can stay ready.

Support your teammates.

Attack the next practice.

Learn what you can improve.

And when your next opportunity comes, execute what you know.

You may not control the coach’s decision.

You always control your response.

And sometimes, that response is exactly what creates your next opportunity.

Got benched? Don’t let it define you. Show them how you respond.

Stay dialed. Stay driven.

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dialedanddriven/
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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheDialedandDrivenPodcast

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Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0PRwBFDkvYi56TdzIPMRge
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dialed-driven-hockey-mentality-podcast/id1791139650
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b1168059-6e38-4352-b3d5-c5fdbba6067f/dialed-driven-hockey-mentality-podcast