01 April 2026
98: Competing Under Pressure: Dan Abrahams on Building a Mental Playbook for Performance
Inside College Soccer
About
On this episode of the Inside College Soccer Podcast, Don Williams sits down with leading sports psychologist Dan Abrahams to break down his new 2026 book Compete: Developing a Mental Playbook for Performance Under Pressure in Sport.
Dan shares practical, game-ready tools designed to help athletes perform when it matters most. The conversation dives into:
The High Performance Mindset (HPM) - how athletes can control attention, intensity, and intent in pressure moments
The Elite Competitor Model - building a proactive, purposeful approach to performance
The Mindset Scale - a simple but powerful tool athletes can use mid-game to reset and refocus
Mental Playbook strategies - managing nerves, frustration, and mistakes while developing a “go again” mentality
In-game routines & confidence tools - how to build consistency and “bulletproof” belief
This episode is a must-listen for players, parents, and coaches navigating high-pressure environments - especially those pursuing the U.S. college pathway, where mindset is often the difference-maker.
📚 Pre-order the book via Hawksmoor Publishing or Amazon
➡️ Learn more: www.danabrahams.com