essentials

IMG Academy+ Essentials Course

parenting the high-performance athlete

8 Lessons • 8 Podcast Episodes

Gain the knowledge and tools needed to enhance your athlete's mental performance and nutrition.

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This course is exclusive to IMG Academy+ Essentials.

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Support your student-athlete in 3 major ways

Be empowered with the knowledge and tools to help your athlete win their future.

Learn how to identify your athlete’s stressors and help them develop an action plan to enhance their overall well-being and development.

What should your athlete eat on a competition day vs training day? Develop a nutrition strategy with your athlete based on their needs.

Help your athlete get quality sleep, rest and recovery so they can feel their best every day and rise to the occasion in moments where it matters most.

take a peek inside the Course

Course Overview

Course Modules

We'll dive into the five fundamental pillars we focus on with all our student-athletes -- Confidence, Resilience, Commitment, Focus, Handling Pressure – and teach you valuable techniques for how to best support your child.

We give parents the tools to navigate the grocery store efficiently, to prepare meals kids will actually eat. We also discuss how to consume supplements safely and how to ensure your child gets the optimal amount of rest and recovery time.

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meet your coaching team

Course Facilitator

dr. emily wright

Emily received her Ph.D. in Sports Psychology with a concentration in youth sports parenting from Michigan State University. At Michigan State, Emily provided mental performance training services to the DI women’s tennis team and youth hockey teams in the surrounding area.

In addition to being an IMG Academy+ Coach, Emily is an Assistant Professor at Miami University (Ohio), where she teaches and mentors students in Sport Psychology.

As a Course Facilitator, Coach Emily is active in the course community in real time to answer questions and connect with student-athletes.

Performance Dietitian

coach taylor cintron

Taylor Cintron is a registered sports dietitian who has worked with athletes in the field of performance nutrition for the past 8 years. Taylor got her start as an on-site performance dietician at IMG Academy and has since worked with collegiate and professional athletes.

Mental Performance Coach

Dr. Greg young

Originally from Newcastle, England, Dr. Greg Young played collegiate soccer at Berry College and earned a degree in Physical Education - Teacher Education. He attended the University of Tennessee and earned his M.S. and Ph.D. in Sport Psychology and Motor Behavior.

While studying, he taught the physical education activity program and served as a graduate assistant for Sports Psychology for the University of Tennessee athletic department. He currently heads up Mental Performance at St. Louis CITY Soccer Club.

As the Course Guide, Coach Greg leads student-athletes through course modules and lessons.

don’t just take our word for it!

"This course was a huge step in the right direction for me. as a person. The Confidence Course should play a role in peoples lives in general. It’s always good to have tools that help better you as a person." - Cole (Student-Athlete)

"The sessions with my son have helped him to become more confident and give him a plan to mitigate negative thoughts and prepare him mentally for each game. Coach Brianna also provides a safe and comfortable environment for him to share any vulnerabilities he has with her." - Julie N. (Parent)

"I have not only noticed a big change in my athletic performance, but also I have been able to make this community with other athletes, relate to them and see that other people feel the same way as me when it comes to nutrition, especially because of social taboos. I feel understood and I feel great." - Rafaela (Student-Athlete)

"This course was a huge step in the right direction for me. as a person. The Confidence Course should play a role in peoples lives in general. It’s always good to have tools that help better you as a person." - Cole (Student-Athlete)

"The sessions with my son have helped him to become more confident and give him a plan to mitigate negative thoughts and prepare him mentally for each game. Coach Brianna also provides a safe and comfortable environment for him to share any vulnerabilities he has with her." - Julie N. (Parent)

"I have not only noticed a big change in my athletic performance, but also I have been able to make this community with other athletes, relate to them and see that other people feel the same way as me when it comes to nutrition, especially because of social taboos. I feel understood and I feel great." - Rafaela (Student-Athlete)

this Course & more included in the essentials membership

Activate your IMG Academy+ Essentials Membership to gain access to this course, along with all other courses, collections and workshops.

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frequently asked questions

Course Questions

Who is this course for?

All student-athletes are welcome but this course is best suited for student-athletes ages 13-19 who are looking to build their confidence skills to win in sports and life.

Applicable to all sports!

How long will this course take?

This course consists of two main parts: 1) a 15-minute, interactive lesson led by an IMG Academy+ Coach, and 2) a 10-minute Q&A. Beyond that, you can also spend time in the Mental Performance Community and browsing through downloadable resources.

You can start and come back to the course lesson, Q&A, and activities whenever you’d like. This course is designed to fit into your schedule, so make sure to go at your own pace!

How can I continue my parenting journey after the course?

Working on specific aspects of your mental performance, such as confidence and focus, will help improve your overall mental game. We recommend taking additional Mental Performance courses & workshops as they get added to build on what you’ve learned thus far. Explore Mental Performance courses and workshops here.

If you’re looking to go deeper, and get coaching that is more specific to you, consider getting a Mental Performance Coach. With private coaching, you’ll get to meet one-on-one with your expert IMG Academy+ Mental Performance Coach who will tailor an action plan specific to your goals and needs. Learn more about IMG Academy+ Mental Performance Coaching here.

Are any aspects of the course live?

In the course community, you can interact with other student-athletes and your expert coach in real time.

However, the course themselves are not live. We know student-athletes are always stretched for time, so we want to ensure that every person can learn at their own pace and on their own schedule.

Is this course right for my learning style?

We’ve designed our course with multiple learning styles in mind. Whether you learn best by watching videos, interacting with peers and course instructors, engaging in activities, self-reflecting or listening to audio, we’ve got you covered.

For a learning experience that spends more time diving deeper into a broader topic like Confidence or Nutrition, try one of our courses!

Have feedback on the course style? We want to know! Email us to share what works best for you.

Membership Questions

How much does IMG Academy+ Essentials cost?

Get instant access to our resource library and on-demand experiences for $10/month billed annually. Learn more about essentials membership today

How do I cancel my membership?

For more information please visit our purchase policy for more information.

What is the refund policy?