Mentality Types – Find What Feels Like You

1. ACTIVATOR

You compete best when you're fired up.
You feel unstoppable when the music’s loud, the warm-up is intense, and the energy is high. You love when the stakes are big, pressure actually fuels you. You like to move fast, compete hard, and feel like a beast when you’re in your zone.

You might say:

“I need to get hyped before I play.”
“If I don’t feel that fire, I feel off.”
“I play better when the energy is loud.”

Where you thrive:

• You thrive on energy, emotion, and action. You don’t want to feel ready; you want to become ready through movement and adrenaline.

• You're often the first to dive in and push intensity. You’re competitive by nature.

Where you get stuck:

• You react too quickly when things go wrong

• You may rush through plays, skip your breath, or let frustration take over

• You tie success to energy, so when the energy's off, so are you

Tools you need:

• Short, sharp focus cues (e.g. “Eyes here,” “Explode through”)

• Body resets like a 5-second routine to control pace and emotion

• Anchor breaths to bring intensity down between reps

• Adrenaline release for composure Shaking out the body or light bouncing when energy is too high.

• Pre-performance playlist or movement ramp-up that builds gradually (don’t go from 0 to 100 too fast)

Growth point: Learn to stay sharp without needing the hype to carry you.

2. REGULATOR

You compete best when you’re calm and in control.
You don’t need big hype; you need inner quiet. You like things steady, predictable, and under control. When others are spiraling, you want to be the one staying centered. You’re the athlete who breathes deep, thinks clearly, and likes having space before the action starts.

You might say:

“I get overwhelmed if it’s too loud or chaotic.”
“I need a second to breathe before I go in.”
“If I stay calm, I play my best.”

Where You Thrive:

• You think deeply and like to process before you act. You need to feel safe before you can be aggressive.

• You prefer slow build-ups, structured drills, and consistency.

Where you get stuck:

• You overthink before or after a mistake

• You freeze or hesitate when the environment feels chaotic

• You struggle when things don’t go as planned

Tools you need:

• Grounding routines (e.g. 3-2-1 sensory reset or body scan)

• Rhythm breathing - breathing that focuses on steadiness and heart rate drop

• Simple mantras like “Be where your feet are” or “Feel, don’t fix”

• Visualization that includes unpredictable scenarios so you’re not thrown off when it gets messy

• Supportive space before performance — not too much noise or hype

Growth Point: Trust your instinct more. Let go of perfection and allow quick decisions.

3. CONNECTOR

You compete best when you feel supported and connected.
You love being part of a team. Your game gets better when you feel seen, encouraged, or like you’re doing it with people.
You bring energy to the group and play your best when you’re having fun or feeling emotionally safe.

You might say:

“I don’t feel right when I feel left out.”
“I play way better when the team vibe is good.”
“If I feel pressure to be perfect, I shut down.”

Where you thrive:

• You’re emotionally intuitive. You pick up team energy fast.

• You want to make others proud, and your game lifts when you feel connected.

Where you get stuck:

• You lose confidence if you feel disconnected from your coach or team

• You try to “earn your place” with perfection

• You take feedback or corrections very personally

Tools you need:

• Verbal affirmations — reminders that you’re valued no matter what

• Team rituals or shared routines (like pre-game huddles, fist bumps, or shared mantras)

• Personal anchor word that grounds your confidence from within

• Daily “win log” — write down what went well, even if it’s small

Growth Point: Learn to hold self-worth from inside, not just from praise or connection.

4. PLANNER

You compete best when you feel prepared.
You love a routine. You like knowing the plan and following the steps. Chaos isn’t your thing, structure is.
You walk into a game with a mental checklist and feel calm when you’ve visualized how it will go.

You might say:

“I have to go through my routine or I feel off.”
“I like to mentally walk through everything before it starts.”
“I’m not a wing-it kind of athlete.”

Where you Thrive:

• You love structure, patterns, and having a game plan. Confidence comes from knowing you’ve done the work.

• You build safety through repetition and step-by-step thinking.

Where you get stuck:

• You panic if something unexpected happens

• You struggle to reset after mistakes because they feel like system failures

• You get stuck in your head when you can’t control the environment

Tools you need:

• Pre-game checklist you can run through to feel locked in (do not go overboard, just the essentials).

• If-Then coping plans (e.g. “If I mess up the first serve, then I reset with 3 breaths”)

• Visualization of worst-case AND recovery — not just perfect reps

• Post-game reflection structure — not just “Did I win?” but “What did I learn?”

Growth Point: Learn to adapt. Let your preparation support you, not control you.

Remember!

There’s no best mentality —-> only your best.

When you know how you operate mentally, you can start preparing in a way that actually supports your game.