ATHLETE TOUGH

"One aspect of the Athlete Tough Program we really benefited from was the breathing exercises. From a coaching perspective, our team ‘breathing time’ becomes a special place for each individual and I ‘keep my distance’. As a team we stop and breathe during each training session. It’s a time reserved just for the athletes to find inner peace, strength, and resolve. No Coaches barking at them, no team members demanding and no opponents challenging them. I have found these moments of breathing, when applied consistently and properly, to be the critical differentiator in match play."

"It is hard to say what the BEST thing has been about the ATHLETE TOUGH Program because it has been helpful in so many ways. My clients and I appreciate the clear, concise way that the Program is laid out, and that the strategies are practical, rather than just theoretical. Some of today’s coaches like to wax poetic for the days of “athletes who would run through walls to play our sport” and for how tough the athletes “used to be”. I think that it is important to remember that the origin of the coaching profession is EDUCATION. We need to educate our student-athletes, many of whom have come to us with a very different skillset from their Coaches, with concrete strategies that they can employ to achieve mental toughness. ATHLETE TOUGH does that, and does it very well. Evolution is necessary for growth and to sustain life in every profession, and this is a great resource to use in the evolution of both athletes and Coaches in order to set up both of them for success."

"Best aspect – everything!! Having a program like this available to our young players has been amazing. In just a few short weeks, they have increased their communication, starting to hold each other accountable, and raising their expectations of not only themselves but each other. The online videos really help to drum home the messages throughout this program. It allowed the players to hear from someone else other than the coaching staff. Seeing the light bulb moments, the determination, and the start of their self-belief has been amazing. I have been going through the program myself as a head coach, and teaching myself to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Teaching not only the players but myself, how to be mentally strong and tough. I was lucky enough to see Bo present at a VIC netball conference. He was amazing, and his stories were very relate-able. This is a resource any coach can use at any level, especially at grass roots."

"It is relevant and directly applicable to the high school student athletes that I am working with. When the opportunity to be a Character Coach came up at the high school where I’ve taught, and coached (football and wrestling) at for many years, I was very excited as I knew this was an area of great need. After a few meetings with the football teams, I realized I needed a curriculum to address the many issues that needed to be covered. Fortunately, I stumbled upon ATHLETE TOUGH, ordered it and implemented in right away. It has been and continues to be a key part of our ever-expanding Champions of Character program."

"I think the best aspect of the ATHLETE TOUGH program has been watching my novice rowers find their collective, “why?” For a group of collegiate athletes who have never done the sport before setting foot on campus, intentionally choosing to put themselves so far outside of their comfort zone has not only helped them to realize a kind of inner strength they didn’t know existed, but has helped them build relationships with each other based on deep trust. From my perspective as a coach, it is incredibly important to find as many resources as possible to help reach as many different athletes as possible. We’re only halfway through the curriculum and I can already see a huge difference!"

“The biggest positive about the Athlete Tough Program is the short activities it gives chapter to chapter. This Program isn’t just about the theory behind improving athlete toughness. It gives you things along the way to help build toughness and put the theories and facts to work. This really helped me to be able to use consistent language with our players when talking about being Athlete Tough. There are a lot of different programs out there, but I have already found this to really help to make the language consistent between athletes and myself when we talk about being tough throughout our next season.”

“The best aspect of the program is the hands on application that ties the lessons together… and puts the information into “real life.” I have seen such a difference with my team and how they approach competition, especially in adverse weather conditions. They do not even think about the weather any more. They also are holding each other accountable for positive attitudes, comments, etc… They reflect on every competition and point out things that went well and things that they can learn from… no negativity. I have loved seeing my athletes transform into much stronger/tougher mindset athletes. In a sport, such as running, when you are in control of the outcome and your personal performance, mental toughness is the key to separating the competition. This program has really helped my athletes learn a lot about themselves, and thus, improved the culture of the team.”

"The breathing technique Bo taught us helps with controlling my temperament, especially when faced with difficult situations. I practice my breathing daily as it helps me find my neutral self, where I’m not too high or too low in regards to my behavior. It helps with my fitness as well, especially after a conditioning session. When I feel short of breath after a grinding run, I use the breathing practice to help me expand my diaphragm and the upper part of the lung where athletes usually never fully utilize."

“The combination of video and reading was definitely the best part of the program. The fact that the athletes are able to read and do the tasks on their own. Most of the material was not new, but it was presented in a way in which made it easier for the athletes to read and understand. It helped me present some ideas in a new way. I was able to make the athletes accountable for their own improvement. It was a great reference tool, something the players could always carry with them and use when necessary as a reminder.”

“Our coaching staff and athletes loved our weekly ATHLETE TOUGH sessions! The ATHLETE TOUGH program was easy to follow, it promoted an overall ‘buy-in’ from the athletes, and was a great way to help train the complete athlete. I loved that the chapters were easy to follow, where very clear in their intention, and gave the athletes the ability to write their own thoughts and feelings in the exercises at the end of each chapter. This is a program that not only gave our athletes tools for their competitive sport but is a fantastic resource for life outside of the gym. The strategies in the ATHLETE TOUGH program encouraged us to maximize our unique abilities and work together as a team to strive towards our team goal. Many thanks to Bo Hanson and the team at Athlete Assessments in creating and implementing the ATHLETE TOUGH program!”