The Boston Legacy of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) has incorporated mental performance coaching into its player development strategy as part of a broader league initiative to integrate mental health care within professional sports. Mental performance coach Kelly, who joined the team ahead of its inaugural season, employs technology and personalized techniques aimed at enhancing player focus, resilience, and overall mental readiness.
Kelly uses tools such as Senaptec Strobe glasses with the team’s goalkeepers to improve peripheral vision and brain activation before games. During meditation sessions, players wear headbands that monitor brainwave activity, providing real-time feedback on their level of concentration. These methods are intended not only to prepare athletes physically and mentally but also to facilitate open conversations about anxiety and stress, helping players manage the pressures of competition.
The presence of a mental performance coach complements the NWSL’s collective bargaining agreement requirement that each team employ at least two mental health professionals: a mental performance coach and a licensed provider such as a psychiatrist or psychologist. However, league officials emphasize that these requirements serve as a baseline. Brett Haskell, NWSL director of mental health and performance, stated that mental health is viewed as an essential component of healthcare in the league, “not a luxury beyond healthcare.” According to Haskell, integrating mental health professionals alongside team physicians, trainers, and nutritionists is critical for delivering comprehensive care.
Despite the league’s emphasis, Kelly encountered a range of responses from the Legacy players when she first arrived. Enthusiastic players immediately engaged with her, eager to work on mental performance. Others exhibited skepticism or hesitation, stemming from prior negative experiences with mental health professionals or cultural stigmas around mental health. Even Legacy head coach Vieira Patão initially expressed reservations about mental performance coaching during Kelly’s final interview, stating she was not inclined to work with one. Kelly gradually earned Patão’s trust by demonstrating the effectiveness of her methods through data and observed improvements.
Patão has acknowledged publicly that coaching includes managing mental and emotional aspects as well as physical training. Prior to a 1-0 win over the Kansas City Current in July, she emphasized the importance of setting a positive example for players: “How can I set the example if I don’t work on that, too?” She highlighted ongoing self-improvement as a key element in enhancing overall team performance and response in challenging moments.
As the season has progressed, Kelly has compiled extensive data showcasing measurable advances in the players’ mental focus and performance. Patão underlined the significance of mental strength in player development, noting that technical skills and physical capacity alone are insufficient to achieve greatness without a fully engaged mind. The Legacy’s integration of mental performance coaching reflects a growing recognition throughout professional sports of the critical role mental health and cognitive training play in athlete success.