In this episode of Untapped Stories, we sit down with Patrick Rufo - mental performance coach on Athletes Untapped known for his impactful virtual training sessions and strong relationships with athletes and families - to talk about self-awareness, stress, and what it really takes to perform with confidence.

Patrick’s approach to coaching is rooted in one core idea: know who you are — and play like it.

Too many athletes spend their time trying to fit into someone else’s game. They compare themselves to teammates, mimic what they see online, or chase a version of success that doesn’t match their strengths. But Patrick explains that confidence doesn’t come from imitation — it comes from clarity.

When athletes understand their identity — their strengths, tendencies, and style of play — everything starts to click. Decision-making becomes faster. Hesitation disappears. Performance becomes more consistent.

And most importantly, athletes stop overthinking.

Patrick emphasizes that great coaching isn’t about creating dependence. It’s about building independence. The goal is to give athletes tools they can use on their own — so when they step into competition, they don’t need constant reminders. They trust themselves.

As he puts it: when development is working, the conversations get quieter… because the athlete gets stronger.

From there, the conversation shifts into a concept that every athlete experiences — but few truly understand: stress.

Patrick breaks it down simply: not all stress is bad.

There’s the kind of pressure that fuels performance — the excitement of a big moment, the energy of competition, the adrenaline that sharpens focus. That’s good stress.

And then there’s the type of stress that pulls athletes out of their game — overthinking, fear of failure, worrying about outcomes or judgment. That’s bad stress.

The difference comes down to awareness.

Patrick explains that when athletes learn to recognize how stress shows up — physically, mentally, and emotionally — they can start to manage it. Instead of being controlled by the moment, they learn how to respond to it.

That’s how athletes don’t just get in the zone — they learn how to stay there.

Throughout the episode, Patrick highlights the mental performance habits that help athletes compete freely and confidently:

• Building self-awareness around strengths and playing style

• Developing a clear performance identity

• Recognizing the difference between productive and harmful stress

• Learning how to reset focus in high-pressure moments

• Training independence so confidence comes from within

One of the biggest takeaways is that confidence isn’t something you wait for — it’s something you build through understanding yourself and training your response to pressure.

Patrick’s work with athletes shows that when mindset is trained intentionally, performance becomes more consistent — and the game becomes more enjoyable.

This episode is a must-listen for athletes looking to improve confidence, parents supporting players through competitive pressure, and anyone interested in the mental side of performance.

🎙️ Untapped Stories is presented by https://athletesuntapped.com/ — the nation’s leading platform for private sports coaching. We connect athletes and families with elite coaches who help players build strong fundamentals, resilient mindsets, and the tools to succeed both on and off the field.

👉 Follow https://www.instagram.com/athletesuntapped/ for more conversations with mental performance coaches and elite athletes, and explore virtual coaching to strengthen your mindset from anywhere.

🎯 Book lessons with Patrick here: https://athletesuntapped.com/coach-profile/ruforow

In this episode of Untapped Stories, we sit down with Jeff Becker - mental performance coach and former basketball player/coach - to talk about mastering the mental side of competition.

Jeff believes that athletic development isn’t just physical. Strength, speed, and technical skills matter — but the way athletes think, focus, and respond under pressure often determines who performs when it matters most.

One of the biggest mindset shifts Jeff sees athletes struggle with happens when they move from practice to competition.

In practice, the internal dialogue is usually positive. Athletes feel free to experiment, take risks, and focus purely on improvement. Mistakes are part of learning. Confidence comes naturally because the environment feels controlled.

But once the game begins, something changes.

Suddenly there are spectators, expectations, and the pressure of results. Athletes begin focusing on things outside their control — the scoreboard, the crowd, the opponent, or the fear of making a mistake. And that shift often changes their internal dialogue.

Confidence turns into hesitation.

Curiosity turns into criticism.

Jeff explains that elite athletes train their focus and self-talk the same way they train their physical skills. They learn how to control the story running through their head and bring their attention back to controllable actions: effort, execution, and the next play.

From there, the conversation turns to one of Jeff’s favorite questions to ask athletes:

Who are you when it’s not easy?

When shots are falling and momentum is on your side, confidence shows up naturally. But real mental toughness reveals itself when things start going the other way — when a shot rims out, a turnover happens, or the opposing team goes on a run.

Jeff emphasizes that elite performers don’t spiral in those moments. Instead of becoming overly critical of themselves, they stay curious. They ask what the situation requires, reset their focus, and respond with intention.

Throughout the episode, Jeff highlights several key mental performance habits that help athletes compete with confidence:

• Practicing intentional self-talk during training and competition

• Controlling focus by returning to controllable actions

• Responding to mistakes with curiosity instead of criticism

• Staying present instead of worrying about outcomes

• Building resilience through difficult moments

One of the biggest takeaways from Jeff’s philosophy is that the mental game is a trainable skill — just like shooting, footwork, or conditioning. Athletes who invest in mindset training often unlock performance levels they didn’t realize were possible.

For Jeff, helping athletes build confidence isn’t about eliminating adversity. It’s about teaching them how to respond to it.

This episode is a must-listen for athletes competing at any level, parents supporting athletes through the ups and downs of competition, and coaches looking to strengthen the mental side of their teams.

🎙️ Untapped Stories is presented by https://athletesuntapped.com/ — the nation’s leading platform for private sports coaching. We connect athletes and families with elite coaches who help players build strong fundamentals, resilient mindsets, and the confidence to perform when it matters most.

👉 Follow https://www.instagram.com/athletesuntapped/ for more conversations with coaches, athletes, and performance experts helping the next generation untap their potential.

In this episode of Untapped Stories, we sit down with Crystal Nzewi — former Division I college tennis player and Athletes Untapped coach — to talk about the deeper side of athlete development: empathy in coaching, the importance of being coachable, and how tennis can open life-changing opportunities.

Crystal’s journey into tennis began far from where she eventually competed. Growing up in Nigeria, she discovered the sport at a young age and quickly realized it could become more than just a game — it could be a pathway to education, opportunity, and personal growth. Through relentless dedication and belief in her goals, she used tennis to earn the chance to come to the United States and compete at the Division I level.

Her story is a powerful reminder of how sports can shape lives far beyond the court.

Crystal credits much of her development to one mindset: always staying open to learning.

She emphasizes that young athletes improve the fastest when they enter training with curiosity instead of ego. The players who grow the most are the ones willing to listen, absorb feedback, and trust the process — even when adjustments feel uncomfortable.

In tennis especially, development is built through constant refinement. Footwork, racket preparation, timing, and shot selection all improve through repetition and coachability. Athletes who believe they already have everything figured out often plateau, while those willing to learn continue evolving.

From there, the conversation shifts to an important topic for parents: the role of pressure in youth sports.

Crystal speaks directly to the delicate balance between encouraging a child and overwhelming them. Tennis is a mentally demanding sport, where players must manage mistakes, emotions, and momentum shifts often without teammates beside them. When expectations become too heavy, the joy of playing can disappear — and that joy is often the fuel that drives long-term development.

She encourages parents to create environments built on support, patience, and trust so young athletes feel safe taking risks and learning from mistakes.

Another powerful theme in the episode is empathy in coaching.

Crystal reflects on her own experiences growing up in the sport — moments of frustration, feeling misunderstood, navigating competitive pressure, and even the physical and emotional changes that come with adolescence. Those experiences now shape how she approaches coaching.

She believes great coaching isn’t only about teaching technique or strategy. It’s about understanding what athletes are going through emotionally and meeting them where they are.

Throughout the episode, Crystal highlights the foundational habits that help tennis players improve:

• Developing strong footwork and court positioning

• Building consistency through disciplined practice

• Staying mentally composed during long rallies and tough matches

• Remaining coachable and open to feedback

• Creating supportive environments that allow athletes to grow

Crystal’s journey from Nigeria to Division I tennis — and now to mentoring the next generation — shows just how powerful sport can be when paired with resilience, humility, and opportunity.

This episode is a must-listen for young tennis players working to improve their game, parents supporting athletes through competitive development, and coaches who believe strong relationships are at the heart of great training.

🎙️ Untapped Stories is presented by https://athletesuntapped.com/ — the nation’s leading platform for private sports coaching. We connect athletes and families with elite, vetted coaches who help players build strong fundamentals, confidence, and a lifelong love for the game.

👉 Follow https://www.instagram.com/athletesuntapped/ for more conversations with elite coaches and athletes, and explore private tennis coaching to elevate your skills and mindset on the court.