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Why can you absolutely crush it in practice, but the moment the game starts, everything changes? Suddenly you're second-guessing decisions, worrying about mistakes, and thinking about things that normally come naturally.

In this Forged Youth Q&A episode, Mental Performance Coach Mariel Anderson and former professional hockey player Jordan Owens tackle one of the most common struggles athletes face: game-day anxiety and overthinking under pressure.

Jordan shares what it was like playing in the American Hockey League, where one mistake could mean spending the rest of the game on the bench. He explains how simplifying his game helped him rebuild confidence, one shift at a time, and why even becoming a top player didn't make the pressure disappear.

Mariel brings the mental performance coaching perspective, explaining why trying to focus on everything you've practiced can actually work against you during competition. Instead, she shares a simple strategy to help youth athletes stop overthinking, lean into their strengths, and create the conditions for flow.

You'll discover:

• Why athletes can perform confidently in practice but struggle with anxiety and overthinking during games
• How Jordan handled the pressure of making mistakes when his playing time was on the line
• Why simplifying your game and making small, successful plays can build confidence
• How focusing on your strongest skill can reduce mental overload during competition
• The difference between deliberate practice and a competition mindset
• How visualization can help you reconnect with the freedom, looseness, and joy you felt playing sports as a kid

Jordan also shares a powerful strategy he used later in his professional career: mentally returning to the feeling of playing hockey as a 12-year-old, before expectations and pressure took over. By bringing that feeling back into his body, he could release tension and return to simply playing.

Whether you're a young athlete who freezes under pressure, a parent watching your child struggle with game-day nerves, or a coach trying to build confident competitors, this conversation offers practical ways to shift from overthinking to trusting your abilities.

Because sometimes the best way to elevate your game isn't to do more. It's to get back to what you already do well.

About Your Hosts

Mariel Anderson is the founder of Forged Youth and a Mental Performance Coach who works with professional athletes and developing youth athletes. A former elite volleyball athlete, Mariel combines her competitive experience with practical mental performance strategies to help athletes build confidence, resilience, and the skills to navigate pressure in sport and life.

Jordan Owens is a former professional hockey player with a 12-year career that included time in the New York Rangers organization and professional hockey in Europe. As Head of Mentorship & Mindset at Forged Youth, Jordan brings firsthand experience navigating the expectations, challenges, and mental demands of high-performance sport.

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