The Hidden Side of Performance: What Most Athletes Never Practice
Most athletes spend countless hours training their bodies, but what if the biggest factor holding them back is something they rarely train at all? In this insightful episode of Field Notes, sports psychologist and former Olympic ski coach Andy Liebner reveals why mental performance may be just as important as physical preparation.
Drawing from his own journey as an elite athlete, coach, and PhD candidate in sports psychology, Andy shares practical strategies for building confidence, overcoming self-doubt, mastering visualization, and staying focused under pressure.
Whether you’re a competitive athlete, weekend warrior, coach, parent, or simply someone pursuing better health and performance, this conversation offers powerful lessons on how your mindset can either limit your potential or unlock it.
Connect with Andy here: https://www.facebook.com/p/Coach-Andy-Liebner-100046294872992/
Key Takeaways
• The conversations you have with yourself matter most. Your self-talk shapes confidence, resilience, and performance more than any outside influence.
• Mental training is often the missing piece. Many athletes believe performance is 50% mental, yet spend almost no time actively training their minds.
• Visualization is a powerful performance tool. Mentally rehearsing success can help your brain respond as if you’ve already experienced the moment before it happens.
• Focus on what you want, not what you fear. High performers direct their attention toward desired outcomes instead of trying to avoid mistakes.
• Parents, coaches, and mentors have enormous influence. A few well-timed words of encouragement can change an athlete’s confidence, mindset, and trajectory.
Andy Liebner
Sport Psychologist
Andy Liebner is a lifelong athlete, coach, educator, and sports psychology PhD candidate. A native of Soldotna, Alaska, he made local sports history as the first athlete from the Kenai Peninsula to win an individual Cross Country Running State Championship and remains the only skier from the region to win the prestigious Besh Cup Junior National Championship qualifying series.
After graduating from Soldotna High School in 2001 and serving four years on active duty in the U.S. Coast Guard, Andy attended the University of Alaska Anchorage, where he competed in both cross-country running and cross-country skiing, earning two NCAA All-American honors. He later trained and raced throughout Europe, learning from elite skiers and biathletes, and authored the experiential book Wild Shot.
Andy continued his athletic career at Northern Michigan University, earning two additional NCAA All-American titles while completing degrees in Physical Education and Professional Coaching. He went on to coach athletes at the highest level, serving on staff for the 2014 and 2018 Olympic Winter Games.
In addition to earning a master’s degree in teaching from the University of Hawaii, Andy has taught physical education, coached youth sports, and is currently completing his PhD in Sports Psychology through the University of Thessaly in Greece, with an expected graduation in 2027.
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