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 18, 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 #2 Focus training: Control your focus and distractions
Sunday, january 25th, 1:30 - 3:00 pM
South carleton HS, Classroom 1033
Focus can be the difference between reacting and responding, rushing and executing, frustration and composure. In Workshop #2 of The Game-Ready Mindset Series, athletes learn how to take control of their attention, especially when distractions show up during competition.
This workshop introduces athletes to the four different focus zones, helping them understand where their attention should be in different situations on the court. Athletes will learn how to recognize when they’re distracted, what caused it, and how to reset their focus quickly and effectively.
WHAT ATHLETES WILL LEARN:
- The four focus zones and how each applies to basketball
- Common internal and external distractions athletes face
- How to recognize when focus has slipped
- Simple, effective strategies to refocus in the moment
- How better focus leads to improved confidence and consistency