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Spokane’s #1 Mental Strength Coach for Athletes and Leaders

Image of four athletes football, basketball, volleyball, and soccer

Mental Performance Coaching in Spokane — Build Confidence, Focus & Resilience!

Spokane-based mental strength & sports mindset coaching to help athletes overcome fear, gain confidence, and reach peak performance. We offer performance mindset training for youth, high school, and college athletes.

Overcome performance anxiety. Gain consistency. Perform under pressure.

#CompeteHeartFirst

what athletes are saying

Skye Ekes

2024 SoCon Player of the Year

Mercer University Volleyball

"Playing at a high level can be hard mentally. Ryan helped me with my confidence on the court and helped me become a stronger player."

turner livingston

Guard, Bushnell University

Former Forward, Idaho State

"I learned to believe in myself, rely on Christ, control what I can, and face challenges fearlessly."

gia Padillia

Mercer University Volleyball

"This work gave me a different perspective on myself and volleyball. I had a great experience with this program and learned skills that not only helped me with volleyball but that will help and guide me through life."

UNLOCK YOUR TRUE POTENTIAL

Whether you’re an athlete striving for peak performance, a parent supporting your child’s growth, or a coach building resilient teams, our Spokane programs meet your needs.

Psychological safety is the #1 driver of successful teams, and the competitive edge that separates good athletes from great ones is mental toughness and emotional mastery.

By strengthening an athlete’s mindset, we cultivate the resilience, confidence, and laser-sharp focus needed to dominate in competition and thrive in life.

BOOK A CALL

Mental Strength Coaching is for you if...

You’re an athlete who’s putting in the work day in and day out—on the field, in practice, and in the weight room, but you’re frustrated that your progress isn’t matching your effort. You want to see more consistency and faster development in your performance.

You find yourself stuck on mistakes, coaching decisions, or moments where the pressure gets the best of you. You’re ready to break free from these mental barriers and perform at your best when it matters most.

You’re looking for a way to maintain high levels of motivation, to stay focused, and to find that flow or “zone” where you can consistently perform at your highest level.

You’re a coach or parent who’s tired of watching your athlete fall short of their potential because they lack the confidence or mental toughness to push through challenges. You’re searching for a proven system that will help them break through their limitations and develop the mindset of a champion.

You’re an athlete who refuses to settle for average. You’re hungry for that competitive edge, the mindset and mental skills that will take you from good to great, and from great to elite.

Athlete Mindset Training Outcomes: Confidence, Focus, Mental Toughness.

Mental Resilience

Develop the strength to stay composed and confident under pressure, avoiding breakdowns and maintaining self-belief.

Boosted Confidence

Cultivate a strong sense of self-belief, enabling you to approach every challenge with unwavering confidence and decisiveness.

Present & Focused

Learn to stay locked in on the present moment, effortlessly moving on from mistakes and maintaining focus.

Mental
Clarity

Break free from overthinking and distractions, achieving a clear, focused mind that enhances your performance.

Faster
RecoverY

Build the ability to quickly recover from setbacks, maintain your passion for the game, and push through challenges.

Stronger
Teammate

Become a better teammate by overcoming personal mental battles, contributing positively to team morale and supporting others.

ATHLETE tAKEAWAYS

"Recognizing my wins builds confidence."

"I am not defined by my mistakes, but by my response and next action."

Group photo of volleyball team. We help athletes win from within!

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WORK WITH US

Individual Athletes

1:1 Mental Strength Coaching

Provides individual athletes with personalized attention and customized strategies to unlock their full potential.

Through tailored mental performance techniques, goal-setting, and mindset training, we help athletes:

Develop mental toughness to stay composed under pressure.
Build unwavering confidence and self-belief.
Train your mind for focus & clarity in competition.
Recover quickly from setbacks and maintain consistency.

This program is perfect for athletes who are ready to take their game to the next level and are committed to building the mindset of a champion.

*Offered virtually.

Book a free clarity call today to learn more and see how we can help your athlete.

Sports Teams & Coaches

Custom Team Training Packages

An incredibly powerful way to elevate a group of athletes or your entire team’s performance and culture.

We offer team packages, allowing groups of athletes to go through the program together. By participating as a team, athletes not only develop individually but also:

Strengthen team dynamics
Improve communication and connection
Increase collective resilience

This shared experience fosters a stronger bond, improves team morale, and helps teams overcome challenges together, creating a unified group that performs mentally and physically at its best.

*Offered in-person and virtually.

Book a free clarity call today to learn more and see how we can help your team compete at their highest level!

Leaders & Organizations

Integrated Mindset For Leaders

Enhance Self-Understanding, Build Emotional Resilience, Improve Relationships, and Unlock Professional Growth.

In Integrated Mindset, we focus on nurturing a growth mindset through self-directed neuroplasticity exercises, which reshape the brain's patterns. This process is enhanced by incorporating somatic practices such as breathwork and body-based tools for greater integration.

You will learn...

How to Transform Any Challenge into Opportunity

How to Be Fully Present: How to Experience Greater Calm, Clarity, and Productivity
How to Construct the Highest-Impact YOU

*Offered in-person and virtually.

Book a free clarity call today to learn more and see how we can help your team compete at their highest level!

Learn More

Aiva Reed

CDA High School Volleyball

"One of the most important lessons I learned was to stay present. Instead of worrying about the outcome, I focused on each play, which significantly improved my performance."

WADE BENSON

Owner CPA Volleyball Club

"The addition of Ryan Sawyer to our College Preparatory Academy Volleyball Club program has been instrumental in providing an opportunity for growth in the mental game for our athletes and coaches."

Nolan ulm

Wide Receiver, Eastern Washington University

"I would highly recommend this to anyone who wants to take their life and performance to the next level."

meet ryan sawyer

Ryan Sawyer with EWU Football players behind him wearing a shirt that say believe

founder & master coach

Ryan is a Former National Champion Collegiate Football Coach turned Mental Strength Coach for Athletes. He played and coached football at Central Washington University and then went on to be the Defensive Line Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at Eastern Washington University from 2008-2015.

Since leaving college coaching, Ryan has become a sought-after Mental Strength Coach and Speaker, teaching Mental Toughness and Resilience programs to many different organizations, including Club Sports Teams, Universities, First Responders, and many other organizations.

coaching credentials

Former National Champion College Football Coach
Founder of Heart First Mental Strength Academy
Author of the Books "Choice Point" & "We Can Do Hard Things"
Host of the Heart First Leadership Podcast
Master Coach & Creator: Integrated Mindset for Leaders & Competitive Edge for Athletes
Certified Unbeatable Mind Coach
Certified Spartan SGX Coach
Certified Mental Performance Mastery Coach
Certified Kokoro Yoga Instructor
Certified Quantum Living Process Facilitator
Certified Oxygen Advantage Instructor (Breath for Performance)
Certified Meditation and Mindfulness Instructor
Certified Safe Sound Protocol (SSP)
Certified Neuro Coach with Mindset Neuroscience Neurotraining Institute

MEET OUR TEAM

trusted by

What an amazing opportunity for young athletes to work with such a fantastic mindset coach! Our daughter had a great experience that stretched her mind for positive growth both on and off the court!

Heather Paulson, Athlete Parent

HOW IT WORKS

Let's explore your athlete's specific needs and goals, and how our mental performance training can support them, outlining your best next steps.

Work with Spokane’s leading mental performance coach. Discover how Heart First Mental Strength Academy can help you or your athlete gain the confidence, focus, and resilience to compete — and win — from the inside out.

Step 1

Book Your Clarity Call

Your first step is to schedule a clarity call with us. This conversation is for parents or guardians to share goals, ask questions, and learn how our program can support your athlete’s growth.

Step 2

We Connect a Coach with Your Athlete

After our call, one of our coaches will connect directly with your athlete. This is a chance for them to get to know each other and ensure it’s a great fit.

Step 3

Set the Schedule & Get Started!

Once we’re all aligned, we’ll create a schedule that fits your athlete's life, and then we get to work helping them grow in confidence, mindset, and performance.

START HERE

Heart First Student Athlete Planner & Journal
90-Day Edition | Designed for Student Athletes

Specifically created for student athletes, this beautifully designed, science-based planner and journal helps athletes develop mental strength, emotional resilience, and a growth mindset—so they can thrive in sports, school, and life.

Discover the power of their mindset and how it influences performance
Set purposeful goals and create habits to support success
Perform at their best, both on and off the field

Through guided journaling, goal-setting tools, and reflection prompts, this planner empowers young athletes to build confidence, resilience, and discipline while balancing academics and sports.

Teen athlete holding the Heart First Student Athlete Planner

Heart First Student Athlete Planner pages

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