In this episode of Untapped Stories, we sit down with Patrick Rufo - mental performance coach on Athletes Untapped known for his impactful virtual training sessions and strong relationships with athletes and families - to talk about self-awareness, stress, and what it really takes to perform with confidence.

Patrick’s approach to coaching is rooted in one core idea: know who you are — and play like it.

Too many athletes spend their time trying to fit into someone else’s game. They compare themselves to teammates, mimic what they see online, or chase a version of success that doesn’t match their strengths. But Patrick explains that confidence doesn’t come from imitation — it comes from clarity.

When athletes understand their identity — their strengths, tendencies, and style of play — everything starts to click. Decision-making becomes faster. Hesitation disappears. Performance becomes more consistent.

And most importantly, athletes stop overthinking.

Patrick emphasizes that great coaching isn’t about creating dependence. It’s about building independence. The goal is to give athletes tools they can use on their own — so when they step into competition, they don’t need constant reminders. They trust themselves.

As he puts it: when development is working, the conversations get quieter… because the athlete gets stronger.

From there, the conversation shifts into a concept that every athlete experiences — but few truly understand: stress.

Patrick breaks it down simply: not all stress is bad.

There’s the kind of pressure that fuels performance — the excitement of a big moment, the energy of competition, the adrenaline that sharpens focus. That’s good stress.

And then there’s the type of stress that pulls athletes out of their game — overthinking, fear of failure, worrying about outcomes or judgment. That’s bad stress.

The difference comes down to awareness.

Patrick explains that when athletes learn to recognize how stress shows up — physically, mentally, and emotionally — they can start to manage it. Instead of being controlled by the moment, they learn how to respond to it.

That’s how athletes don’t just get in the zone — they learn how to stay there.

Throughout the episode, Patrick highlights the mental performance habits that help athletes compete freely and confidently:

• Building self-awareness around strengths and playing style

• Developing a clear performance identity

• Recognizing the difference between productive and harmful stress

• Learning how to reset focus in high-pressure moments

• Training independence so confidence comes from within

One of the biggest takeaways is that confidence isn’t something you wait for — it’s something you build through understanding yourself and training your response to pressure.

Patrick’s work with athletes shows that when mindset is trained intentionally, performance becomes more consistent — and the game becomes more enjoyable.

This episode is a must-listen for athletes looking to improve confidence, parents supporting players through competitive pressure, and anyone interested in the mental side of performance.

🎙️ Untapped Stories is presented by https://athletesuntapped.com/ — the nation’s leading platform for private sports coaching. We connect athletes and families with elite coaches who help players build strong fundamentals, resilient mindsets, and the tools to succeed both on and off the field.

👉 Follow https://www.instagram.com/athletesuntapped/ for more conversations with mental performance coaches and elite athletes, and explore virtual coaching to strengthen your mindset from anywhere.

🎯 Book lessons with Patrick here: https://athletesuntapped.com/coach-profile/ruforow