Training the Mind for Pressure: Workbooks That Take Athletes Through the Focus Cycle
- Ben Carnes
- Aug 19
- 2 min read
In sports, pressure moments reveal everything. Some athletes freeze. Some fold. And some flip the switch. The difference isn’t just physical talent, it’s the ability to control your mind and body when the game is on the line. That’s where the Focus Cycle comes in.
The Focus Cycle is a step-by-step system that helps athletes recognize when their performance starts to slip, reset in real time, and lock back in on what matters most. It gives players practical tools: breathing, muscle control, self-talk, and reset routines to stay calm, confident, and in control.
To make this system easy to apply, I’ve built a series of sport-specific workbooks available on Amazon. Each workbook is interactive, practical, and designed for athletes to use during practices, film sessions, or even in the heat of competition.
📘 Flip the Switch: QB Edition
Quarterbacks face the ultimate pressure — the ball in their hands, the team on their shoulders. This workbook gives QBs the tools to reset after a mistake, stay calm when the lights are brightest, and build the confidence needed to lead.
📘 Flip the Switch: Pitcher Edition
Baseball pitchers live pitch-to-pitch. One mistake can snowball into a bad inning if you don’t know how to reset. This workbook teaches pitchers how to flip the switch back into performance mode, control their breathing and muscles, and focus on the pitch in front of them.
📘 Flip the Switch: Baseball Edition
For players in the batter’s box, on the mound, or in the field — this guide helps baseball athletes learn how to control nerves, block out distractions, and train their mind the same way they train their swing.
📘 Taking Back Control: Hockey Goalie Edition
Goalies often feel the weight of the entire game on their shoulders. This workbook gives them real reset tools between shots, ways to let go after a goal, and strategies to stay locked in all game long.
🔑 Digital Versions + Performance Bundles
For athletes, parents, and coaches who prefer digital access, we also have downloadable workbooks and performance bundles for multiple sports:
Quarterback
Pitcher
Baseball
Goalie
Catcher
Tennis
Golf
Wrestling
Racing & Motocross
👉 Browse all digital products here: Shop Digital Workbooks →
Why These Workbooks Work
These aren’t motivational quotes or mindset theory. They’re interactive tools built to be written in, revisited, and used all season long. Athletes who go through the Focus Cycle develop the ability to:
Recognize when performance starts to break down
Understand what’s happening in their brain and body under pressure
Reset in real time with breathing, muscle control, and self-talk
Build confidence with a personalized Go-To Statement
Lock in on the present moment
Final Word
Whether you’re a quarterback under the lights, a goalie in a shootout, a pitcher with the bases loaded, or a hitter in the bottom of the ninth, the pressure is never going away.
The only question is: will you let it control you, or will you take back control?
📘 Grab your workbook today and start training your mind the same way you train your body.
Comments