Why Mental Performance Coaching?

Providing mental performance coaching for the players, coaches, and parents who are a part of the Focus Field Hockey Club is an opportunity to foster the development of the skills and strategies that we know help individuals perform at a high level in sport, in school, and in life. While we often assume that “sport builds character”, research has shown us that only though purposeful and intentional development of these skills within the sport setting do athletes gain the full benefit of sport participation and competition. The commitment by the Focus Field Hockey Club to provide mental performance coaching for their members is an investment in the growth of the players as athletes and – more importantly – as people. 

Katy Tran Turner, Ph.D. is a mental performance specialist with expertise is in developing psychological skills to optimize performance in high-pressure, fast-paced, and dynamic environments. She specializes in developing strategies to enhance decision-making, confidence, self-regulation, and present-moment focus in high-stress performance moments. Dr. Turner most recently provided mental performance coaching with student-athletes at Michigan State University, while holding a position as a faculty member in the department of Kinesiology at Michigan State University. She also served for five seasons as the mental performance coach for the Buffalo Sabres and two season for the Buffalo Bills as part of multidisciplinary, high performance teams providing holistic training and support. Prior to working with professional athletes in Western New York, she worked with Soldiers at Fort Bragg, NC to provide mental performance training for these tactical athletes. She currently provides mental performance training for NCAA Division I athletes, first-responders, and business executives.  

Dr. Turner is a Certified Mental Performance Consultant through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology, and a member of the American Psychological Association Division 47 (Society for Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology). She earned her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology (specialization in Sport and Performance Psychology) from Florida State University, her master’s degree in Exercise Physiology from Kent State University, and her undergraduate degrees in Biology and Exercise & Sport Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Katy played in goal for the field hockey team at UNC-Chapel Hill and was the starting goaltender for three years, while earning All-America honors.  

Focus began the FMPC (Focus Mental Performance Coaching) program in the Fall of 2022. This program is included in seasonal fees and available to every Focus athlete and family. 

Feel free to direct questions about the program to club director, Kristen McCann, at Kristen@focusfieldhockey.com.