The Game-Ready Mindset Series: Mental Performance Workshops
The Game-Ready Mindset Series is a three-part mental performance training program designed to equip West Ottawa Basketball athletes with the mindset, habits, and emotional skills they need to perform with confidence and consistency. Created for players ages 8 to 17, this series focuses on helping athletes understand how their thoughts, preparation, and emotional responses shape their performance—both in competition and in everyday life.
The program empowers young athletes to recognize the connection between mental readiness and game-time execution. Through interactive activities, age-appropriate discussions, and basketball-specific examples, participants learn practical tools they can apply immediately in practices, games, school settings, and high-pressure situations beyond sport.
Across the three workshops, athletes will:
- Build true confidence through constructive self-talk and deliberate preparation
- Strengthen emotional regulation and composure in competitive moments
- Improve focus and situational awareness on the court
- Develop effective routines that support mental readiness and consistency
- Take ownership of their growth as resilient, disciplined, and self-aware athletes
The Game-Ready Mindset Series is more than a performance initiative—it reflects West Ottawa Basketball’s commitment to developing healthy, holistic young people. By nurturing mental and emotional skills early in an athlete’s journey, we’re helping them grow into grounded, confident individuals who are prepared not only for competition, but for the many challenges and opportunities they will encounter in life.
about Ashley Strike
Ashley Strike is a Certified Mental Performance Consultant and founder of Strike Zone Consulting, specializing in helping athletes build the cognitive, emotional, and behavioral skills essential for high performance. She has extensive experience working with elite youth programs across Ottawa and Toronto, including B–AAA hockey organizations, competitive basketball teams, and individual athletes committed to reaching the next level.
Ashley’s athlete-centered approach is rooted in sport psychology, long-term athlete development, and evidence-based mental skills training. She is passionate about teaching young athletes how to strengthen the “inner game”—confidence, self-awareness, emotional regulation, and resilience—so they can perform consistently under pressure and develop habits that support success beyond sport.
Through workshops, one-on-one training, and customized team programs, Ashley delivers practical, engaging sessions that athletes can immediately apply in practices, games, and daily life. Known for her calm presence and relatable teaching style, she has become a trusted partner for coaches, parents, and organizations seeking to develop strong, grounded, and mentally prepared athletes.
upcoming clinics
Workshop #1: Confidence & Self-Talk
Sunday, November 23rd, 9:00 - 11:00 AM
earl of march SS Gym C/D
Confidence is one of the most important skills an athlete can build—and it starts with the way they talk to themselves. In this first workshop, athletes will explore how their self-talk shapes their performance, emotions, and ability to respond under pressure. Through interactive activities and age-appropriate instruction, players will learn to identify unhelpful thoughts, reframe them, and build repeatable confidence they can rely on in games, practices, and everyday challenges.
WHAT KIDS AND PARENTS WILL EXPERIENCE:
- What confidence really means in sport
- How self-talk influences focus, emotions, and decision-making
- Tools to shift negative thoughts into more supportive ones
- Strategies to stay calm, composed, and game-ready under pressure
- Practical habits they can apply immediately on and off the court