Coach Sav MPC

The biggest performance tool your athletes have might not be their training plan.

It’s the relationship.

For my master’s capstone (2023) I dove into the research on the coach-athlete relationship. 2 highlights:

The trust, communication, and genuine belief between a coach and athlete directly shapes how confident that athlete feels in themselves.

Self-Belief is one of the strongest predictors of performance we have. Research even shows it outperforms perfectionism.

Swipe through for the breakdown.

Coaches: how intentional are you about the relational side of your coaching?
Athletes: has a coach’s belief in you ever changed how you performed?

I used Claude to develop a viewer friendly version of my capstone. Check the link in my bio! 🧠💪

Let’s myth-bust & train confidence 🧠💪🏼
Link in my bio to schedule 🔗

Stop comparing your becoming to someone else’s final edit.

That “perfect” body, face, life you keep seeing on your FYP? It’s filtered, posed, retouched—and not the full story…

But your story? It’s powerful, real, and still unfolding.

Take it from someone who’s:
💪 Faced an eating disorder
🎾 Played college sports
💖 Seriously cares about your confidence & well-being

Progress pics, messy growth, mindset shifts—THAT’S the real flex. 🧠💪🏼

True happiness & healthiness come from:
🌱 Celebrating small wins
🔥 Following your passion
👯 Growing your support circle
🌀 Trusting the process

You’re doing SO much better than you think . 💫

Your body speaks before you hit a single ball 👀

These 3 confidence-boosting body language shifts aren't just "fake it till you make it" tricks—they're psychology-backed techniques that literally change your hormones and neural pathways.

I've seen players transform their presence on court in MINUTES using these exact techniques.

The best part? These work for players of ALL levels—from juniors to competitive adults.

💭 Which confidence killer are you guilty of? Looking down? Shrinking between points? Moving too quickly?

Double tap if you've noticed how your posture affects your play! And save this post for your next match.

Want more personalized confidence techniques? Book your FREE 20-minute mental performance consultation (link in bio) 🧠🎾

Fed says it best 👑🎾✨ Happy Monday!

Smiling because I’ve got so much good stuff coming your way - I’m SO excited 🧠💪🏼💭

From mindset tips to game-day routines to off-court confidence boosts—I’m pouring everything I’ve learned (and keep learning) into fresh new content for athletes, parents, and coaches.

Again - I’m seriously so excited to keep building this community with you 🤝🏼

STAY. TUNED.

But now I want to hear from YOU:
What topics are you most curious about right now?

➡️ Game day nerves
➡️ Confidence boosting
➡️ Goal-setting & consistency
➡️ Emotional regulation

Poll below ⬇️ or DM me! 🧠💪🏼

If I could go back and coach myself while recovering through injuries (which I have DEFINITELY had my fair share), here’s what I would do ⬇️

If you’re an athlete recovering from an injury right now, I FEEL FOR YOU! With my knowledge of psychology & experience working with a variety of professionals through my own injuries 👉🏼 I can guarantee these things will help! 🧠💪🏼

1. REST (but actually, REST) - I used to try to train everything i could that “wasn’t my injury” and not give my body time to rest. So please actually REST physically & mentally.

2. Not call yourself “weak” (or other names) for being injured - having negative self-talk not only causes emotional distress but physical stress (which does not help recovery).

3. Do gentle rehab - don’t go 100 to absolute 0. When one part of your body is recovering other parts of your body are effected. Gentle stretching, massaging, etc. can help! NOTE: more current research is suggesting that ice is NOT as helpful. I only use it immediately after injury, but not much in the recovery process. I recommend doing your own research on this 🙂

4. Practice imagery - When you are injured it can be hard to imagine not being injured. Practicing imagery can help your mind & body stay “in-shape” for when you comeback!

5. Work with a Mental Performance Coach! - As someone who has gone through the injury and recovery process multiple times, I have experience and knowledge that can help you bounce back from your injury smarter and stronger! Check the link in my bio 🧠💪🏼

Meet Savana McDowell, a dedicated coach with a passion for both tennis and pickleball! Savana played for UCSC’s women’s tennis team, competing in singles and doubles. After earning her undergraduate degree, she returned to UCSC as a volunteer assistant coach for the women’s tennis team.

She holds a Master’s degree in Sport and Performance Psychology, deepening her expertise in the mental aspects of athletic success.

Savana works with players of all ages and skill levels, blending technical instruction with mental training to help athletes improve their performance and have fun!