Today we’d like to introduce you to Maya McFadden.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My interest in sport psychology began in high school, shaped by my own experiences as a competitive athlete. After navigating multiple injuries and a range of coaching styles, I became deeply aware of how much the mental and emotional side of sport can impact an athlete’s confidence, motivation, and love for the game. I experienced coaching from both ends of the spectrum, and those experiences stayed with me long after my playing days.
When I transitioned into coaching, I was intentional about the environment I wanted to create. I wanted to be the coach who made athletes feel supported, encouraged, and believed in — even while being challenged. After experiencing burnout myself, I learned how important it is to push athletes toward growth without pushing them past their limits. My philosophy became simple: push athletes to the point of breakthrough, not burnout.
That passion led me to pursue a B.A. in Psychology from the University of North Texas and an M.S. in Exercise Science & Mental Performance from Adams State University. As I began integrating mental skills training into my teams, I saw how confidence, focus, and emotional regulation could completely transform the way athletes performed and showed up for themselves.
Those experiences inspired me to found The Game Plan Mental Performance, which I built independently from the ground up. As the Founder and CEO, I work directly with youth athletes across multiple sports, helping them develop the mental tools needed to perform under pressure while maintaining a healthy relationship with their sport. My mission is to support athletes as whole people — not just performers — and to help create environments where confidence, resilience, and well-being can thrive alongside competitive success.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Building The Game Plan Mental Performance has come with its own set of challenges. I didn’t come from a business or entrepreneurial background, and learning how to run and grow a company didn’t come naturally to me. There were moments of self-doubt, especially when confidence in the business side didn’t match the confidence I had in my coaching. However, working through those doubts has been one of the most meaningful parts of the journey. It’s reinforced the understanding that growth doesn’t stop after adolescence — challenges with confidence, identity, and uncertainty continue into adulthood as well. Staying open-minded, resilient, and willing to learn has been essential, and those same experiences now deepen my ability to connect with athletes as they navigate their own struggles. In many ways, building this business has strengthened not only my work, but the way I teach athletes to face adversity with self-trust and persistence.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
What do you do? What do you specialize in? What are you known for?
I am a Mental Performance Coach and the Founder and CEO of The Game Plan Mental Performance. I work primarily with youth and adolescent athletes, helping them build confidence, focus, emotional regulation, resilience, and a healthy relationship with sport. My work blends evidence-based mental skills training with a holistic, athlete-centered approach. I’m known for meeting athletes where they are, creating environments where they feel supported and challenged, and helping them perform with confidence without sacrificing their well-being.
What are you most proud of?
I’m most proud of building The Game Plan Mental Performance independently from the ground up and earning the trust of athletes, parents, and coaches along the way. More than anything, I’m proud when athletes tell me they feel more confident, less anxious, or more connected to their sport because of the work we’ve done together. Knowing that the tools I teach extend beyond the court and positively impact how athletes handle challenges in life is what makes this work meaningful to me.
What sets you apart from others?
What sets me apart is my ability to bridge the gap between performance and well-being. I understand the demands of competitive sports because I’ve lived them — as an athlete, a coach, and now a mental performance professional. I don’t believe in pushing athletes through pressure at the expense of their mental health. Instead, I focus on sustainable growth, helping athletes break through mental barriers without burning out. My approach is grounded in education, empathy, and real-world experience, allowing athletes to feel both challenged and supported in a way that leads to long-term confidence and success.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that mentorship and networking don’t always come from formal settings. Some of the most meaningful relationships I’ve built have grown naturally through coaching, working alongside other professionals, and staying connected within the sports community. Attending networking events has also been valuable, but what’s mattered most is being open to conversation and following up with people I genuinely respect.
I try to approach mentorship with curiosity and humility. I welcome feedback and actively seek guidance from people who have experience in areas I’m working toward or who are willing to share what they’ve learned along the way. I’ve found that being honest about where I am, asking thoughtful questions, and staying open-minded has helped build authentic relationships. Over time, those connections have turned into mentors, collaborators, and trusted sources of support.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.tgpmentalperformance.com
- Instagram: @tgpmentalperformance
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578269515306&sk=about
