The One Tool I Use with Every Athlete I Coach

One of the most common frustrations I hear from coaches is the athlete that excels in practice, only to meltdown when it comes time for the game or competition.

You’ve invested countless hours to help them get over the hump, yet the confidence and consistency displayed in practice seems to evaporate under the pressures of competition.

Many athletes struggle with consistency in their training, leading to inconsistent performance in competitions. This lack of consistency often stems from a lack of clarity and a structured process for preparation.

Bottom line: consistent preparation leads to increased confidence in the athlete’s own ability during competition.

As a coach, your clients and athletes are depending on you to help them stop the cycle of hope and disappointment which erodes their confidence and hinders their growth.

After 20 years of coaching some of the most elite athletes on the planet—including eight UFC world champions, Cy Young award winners, a Heisman Trophy winner, and Olympic medalists—I’ve uncovered one simple tool that can make all the difference.

What’s the secret tool?

It’s called the The Success Checklist and it’s designed to combat these challenges by providing a structured, clear approach to daily preparation.

To make your life easier, I created a worksheet that you can download and use with your clients and athletes:

In competition, people don’t rise to the occasion; they sink to their training.

Proper training is intentional, intense, and documented on paper. 

Does it really work?

One of my clients, Corbin Burnes, started using The Success Checklist in 2019 when we started our work together. We met that year after he was demoted and sent home after a rough stretch at the Major League level. He was a promising pitcher but lacked confidence and had the worst ERA in baseball that year. 

What was the first thing we did?

We implemented The Success Checklist.

Corbin committed to his Success Checklist and remained disciplined. In less than two years he won the Cy Young Award (2021)—given to the best pitcher in baseball. He’s also been a x3 All-Star and widely considered one of the best pitchers in the game of baseball—a testament to the effectiveness of this tool and discipline to the process. 

To create a Success Checklist:

1. Identify Key Actions: Determine the daily actions needed to achieve your goals.
2. Document Your Process: Write down these actions in a checklist format.
3. Download Habitshare: It’s free and you can easily download it from the app store on your mobile device (it’s the same app I use with all my clients).
4. Track and Review: Regularly complete and review your checklist to stay on track.