The Director’s Playbook: The AD’s Guide to Building a Mentally Elite Department

Using Data to Transform Mental Performance in Your Athletic Department

In today’s hyper-competitive athletic environment, Athletic Directors are asked to do more with less—less time, less staff, and less margin for error. Yet expectations continue to rise. Every team under your umbrella is expected to win, every coach is expected to lead with integrity, and every athlete is expected to perform at their peak.

But what if performance wasn’t just about physical ability or strategy? What if the edge you’ve been looking for lies in something you’ve only been able to guess at—until now?

Welcome to the era of data-driven mental performance.

Mental Performance: The New Frontier of Competitive Excellence

We know that mindset matters. Resilience, focus, preparation, character—these are the unseen variables that separate good from great. But historically, mental performance has been difficult to track, measure, or manage. It's often discussed in generalities and only addressed after a problem arises.

That’s no longer acceptable. Not when a student-athlete’s mindset can be the difference between a confident finish or a collapse under pressure. Not when the culture of your department hinges on invisible patterns of team dynamics and individual headspace.

And certainly not when your job is to lead a high-functioning athletic ecosystem.

You Can’t Manage What You Don’t Measure

As an Athletic Director, you wouldn't tolerate not knowing your win-loss record, graduation rate, or injury report. So why tolerate a blind spot around the mental side of the game?

That’s where myPerforma steps in.
Through post-game athlete-reported feedback using our Mindset Performance Indicators (MPIs), you and your coaches can access real-time, measurable data on key mental performance drivers like:

• Individual & Team Performance Ratings (IPR/TPR)
• Mental/Physical Psych Factors
• Preparation Indicators
• Character Strengths & Behavioral Abilities

Every athlete logs their MPIs after competition, providing a shared language and structured reflection framework. The result? Clean, organized data on how each athlete is doing mentally—over time, by sport, by season, and even by coach.

You don’t need to wonder if your athletes are locked in. You’ll know.

Turning Insights into Action

With your custom Organizational Performance Dashboard, you gain a bird’s-eye view of mindset patterns across every sport in your program. You’ll be able to:

✅ Identify which teams are thriving—or struggling—mentally
✅ Compare mental performance trends across teams, coaches, and seasons
✅ Spot high-risk athletes before burnout, disengagement, or transfer happens
✅ Equip coaches with real, actionable intel for transformational development conversations
✅ Create a culture of transparency, accountability, and continuous growth

You’re no longer relying on gut feelings or informal check-ins. You’re managing mental performance with precision.

It’s Time to Upgrade Your Program’s Mental Game

Imagine presenting to your school board, board of directors, or college president with data-backed evidence of your department’s growth in leadership, character, and mindset—not just wins and scholarships.

That’s what myPerforma delivers.

If you're ready to go beyond guesswork and start leading your athletic department with measurable, scalable insights—it starts here.

‍

Here's a preview of what's in the playbook:

⚙️ PART 1: Your 3-Phase Framework for Mental Performance Implementation

PHASE 1: Set the Foundation

Objective: Create department-wide alignment and awareness around mental performance.

• ✅ Host a "Coaches-Only" Leadership Summit
  → Discuss the importance of post-game mental performance tracking
  → Introduce MPIs (Mindset Performance Indicators) and myPerforma
  → Align on the difference between perception (coach) vs perspective (athlete)
• ✅ Establish Clear Expectations for Coaches
  → Require teams to complete MPIs within 24 hours of competition
  → Reinforce that this is a tool for growth, not punishment

PHASE 2: Launch with Athletes

Objective: Roll out MPIs across teams with a culture-first approach.

• ✅ Schedule a Preseason Athlete Kickoff
  → Introduce athletes to the why behind MPIs
  → Share how it benefits their playing time, personal development, and team culture
• ✅ Distribute Post-Game MPI Templates
  → Start with simple, repeatable reflection prompts
  → Encourage honest, quick feedback post-game or post-meet
• ✅ Reinforce Through Coaches
  → Ask coaches to begin post-game reviews by referencing team-level MPI insights
  → Build MPI reflection into film sessions or practice adjustments

PHASE 3: Elevate with Data

Objective: Use dashboard insights to inform decisions and elevate standards.

• ✅ Activate Your myPerforma Organizational Dashboard
  → Track trends across all teams: IPR, TPR, Mental/Physical Ratings, Prep Factors
  → Spot red flags like low buy-in, negative mindset shifts, or risk of burnout
• ✅ Use Data to Lead Strategic Conversations
  → Schedule quarterly check-ins with coaches using MPI data
  → Share progress with school leadership to demonstrate impact
• ✅ Recognize Growth
  → Celebrate athletes with high mindset consistency
  → Acknowledge coaches who actively use data to improve team culture

🧪 PART 2: Sample Mindset Performance Indicators (MPIs)

Here are just a few of the mindset metrics your athletes can rate post-game through myPerforma:

Category                             Indicator                                                                                  Athlete Self-Rating (1–7)         

Performance                     How well did I compete?                                          ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

‍Team Engagement         Did I bring positive energy to my teammates?       ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

‍Mental Resilience           How did I respond to adversity?                              ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

‍Preparation                        Was I physically and mentally ready?                      ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

‍Focus                                    Was I locked in on my role today?                            ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

‍Growth Mindset              Did I approach mistakes with a learning mindset?  ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

📝 PART 3: Printable Tools You Can Use Today

✅ Athlete “Mental Pulse Check” Form (Quick Version)

Have athletes answer these 5 questions after every game:

1. What went well for me today mentally?
2. What didn’t go as planned?
3. How did I prepare for today’s performance?
4. What can I do differently next time?
5. How would I rate my mindset today on a 1–5 scale?

✅ Season Kickoff Meeting Agenda Template

Time             Topic

0:00–0:10    Welcome and Why Mindset Matters

0:10–0:20    What Are MPIs? Walkthrough Demo

0:20–0:30    How We’ll Use myPerforma in Our Program

0:30–0:45    Q&A and Set Expectations

0:45–1:00     Team Breakouts (Optional)

📈 PART 4: Case Study Snapshot

High School AD in Illinois:
After implementing MPIs for three teams over one season, this AD was able to:

• Decrease athlete transfers by 30%
• Increase coach-athlete 1:1 conversations by 60%
• Identify one coach in need of emotional intelligence training based on declining athlete-reported mental preparedness

“We finally have a system that tells the truth behind the scoreboard.”

🚀 Next Step: Bring Your Department to the Next Level

Ready to see your own data?
Get started by subscribing to myPerforma and activating your custom profile. Within minutes, you’ll unlock access to your Organizational Performance Dashboard, onboard your teams, and begin transforming your department’s mental performance.

👉 Create Your Free myPerforma Profile & Dashboard Access »

🙌 BONUS: Join Our AD Leadership Circle

Subscribe today and you’ll receive exclusive access to our monthly AD Leadership Circle, a virtual cohort of high-level Directors sharing best practices in mental performance tracking, retention strategies, and athlete development.

It’s Time to Lead Differently.

Not just harder. Not just louder.
Smarter. With data. With mindset. With purpose.

✅ Next Steps: Take Ownership of Mental Performance

👉 Subscribe to myPerforma today. Create your free profile page, set up your first team, and unlock access to your Organizational Performance Dashboard.
📊 Gain full visibility into the mental side of your athletic ecosystem—across every team, every coach, every athlete.
🎯 Lead smarter. Develop better. Perform stronger.

🎁 Bonus: Download the FREE Director’s Playbook

“The AD’s Guide to Building a Mentally Elite Department”

Inside this lead magnet, you’ll get:

• A 3-Phase Framework for Mental Performance Implementation
• Sample MPI Templates and Post-Game Reflection Questions
• A Season Kickoff Meeting Agenda to Launch with Coaches
• Case Studies on Programs Who Use myPerforma
• A Printable “Mental Pulse Check” Form for Athletes

👉 Download the FREE Playbook Here

Mental performance is no longer optional. It’s a competitive advantage.
Let’s make it measurable. Let’s make it transformational.
Let’s make it your edge.

‍