Why New Zealand Athletes Choose John Novak
John Novak is the mindset coach New Zealand athletes trust for exactly this reason. The term ‘mental performance coach’ is the standard in NZ, and it perfectly describes what John Novak does. His work is not clinical psychology; it is the applied science of producing peak athletic performance through mental skills development, mindset training, and performance psychology. Whether you are a collegiate athlete managing the pressure of scholarship performance, a professional athlete working through a slump, or a high school student seeking an edge in recruiting, the mental game is the final frontier of athletic development.
- Direct experience coaching New Zealand rugby league internationals and NRL club players
- Coached the 2019 New Zealand Women’s Amateur Golf Champion
- 25+ years and 1,000+ elite athletes across 60+ sports – one of the most experienced mindset coaches in Australasia
- Featured in the New Zealand Herald – credibility verified by New Zealand’s most trusted newspaper
- Deep understanding of Australasian sport culture – the unique pressures and expectations of New Zealand athletes
- Online coaching via Zoom – all sessions available from anywhere in New Zealand at times that suit the NZ time zone
- Creator of the Boomerang Effect – a proven mindset framework used by NRL Premiers, Olympians, and Golf Major winners
As a NZ Athlete, do you face these problems?
- Do you train hard but don’t get the results?
- Does your mind let you down?
- Do your nerves overcome you?
- Do your competitors intimidate you?
- Does your anger stop you from winning?
- Do you lose because of little mistakes?
- Do your negative thoughts hurt you?
- Is your mindset a mess?
- Do you find it hard to bounce back?
- Do you find your results are not consistent?
- Are you a talented athlete but your negative mindset hurts you every day?
- Is your mindset like quicksand that drags you down?
- Does it stop you from winning and performing at your best?
Areas you can get help with to compete and dominate at the very highest levels of Sport…
“At the elite level, its 80% mind and 20% body. At the top in any sport, the most successful athletes are not only physically talented, they have the mindset of a champion”
- Positivity
- Motivation
- Best Self
- Focus & Concentration
- Nerves & Anxiety
- Team cohesion
- Peak Performance Planning
- Bounce back
- World class attitude
- Champions Body Language
- Mastering your reactions
- Consistency
- Cutting Edge Mindset
- ‘Mind Hacking’ techniques
- Mind Game plans
- Mindset skills, strategies and procedures
- Visualisation & visual assimilation
- Mindfulness
- Emotion management
- Deal with pressure
- Creating Positive team environments
- Competition & Game day Systems
- Goals, targets & trackers
- Sports Growth Mindset
- Self belief, Trust and Faith
- Confidence
- Champions systems, processes and SOPs
- Mindset simulation in training
- Reflection & Projection
The Key Mental Challenges for New Zealand Athletes
- The weight of the silver fern – performing under the expectation that comes with representing New Zealand, one of the world’s great sporting nations
- The trans-Tasman rivalry – the specific mental demands of competing against Australia across multiple sports
- The step up from domestic to international – the mental gap between NPC, Super Rugby, and New Zealand test level
- Long-haul travel and time zone disruption – maintaining mental performance across the demands of international competition schedules
- Small market pressure – New Zealand athletes often carry more public expectation per capita than athletes in larger nations
- Injury and form management across long seasons – the mental resilience required to sustain performance over a full NRL or Super Rugby year
- Post-career transition – New Zealand has fewer professional sport pathways than Australia, making the mindset of career transition particularly important
The Elite Sport
Mindset Coach
John Novak is widely known as Australia’s No. 1 Sports Mindset Specialist, with his athletes reaching National and International success at World Championships, Olympics and Major Championships.
His athletes include Grace Kim (Evian Championship Winner 2025) and Jake Weatherald (Australian Test Cricket, 2025–26 Ashes). John has published numerous Sports Mindset books and presented across TV, radio and podcasts.
John has worked at the highest levels of professional sport as Mindset Coach for Sydney FC (A-League 2021–2023) and Melbourne FC (AFL 2023). He was previously Head Mindset Coach at Manly Sea Eagles NRL (2019–2022), Canterbury Bulldogs NRL (2012–2017) and Sydney Roosters (2009). He also has been the mindset coach of the Sydney Kings (NBL) and NSW Waratahs (Super Rugby).
He has worked with hundreds of elite athletes and teams in 50+ different sports. His extensive experience in sports mindset is unparalleled.
What John’s Mindset Program Covers for New Zealand Athletes
As an online mindset coach, New Zealand athletes work with John weekly or fortnightly via Zoom on:
Pre-competition mental preparation: the routines that produce peak performance on demand regardless of pressure
Composure under pressure performing at your best when New Zealand’s sporting expectations are highest
The Boomerang Effect framework building the positive mental habits that produce consistent excellence
Resilience and bounce-back, the mental skills to recover from injury, poor form, and setbacks quickly
Team culture programs — the collective mindset that sustains a winning environment across a full season
Online coaching via Zoom — weekly or fortnightly sessions scheduled to suit New Zealand time zones
As Featured in the New Zealand HeraldServices Available for USA Athletes
John Novak’s work with Dallin Watene-Zelezniak was the subject of a major feature article in the New Zealand Herald – New Zealand’s most widely read newspaper. The article described how the Boomerang Effect program transformed Dallin’s career, his confidence, and his family life. It remains one of the most widely shared sports mindset stories in New Zealand media. You can read the full article in the Media section of this website.
1+1=3
What happens when you add an Elite Mindset Coach to an Elite Athlete or Team?
John’s proven and tested mindset program has a multiplication effect. He helps the athlete or team achieve results far greater than usually possible.
His program has guided athletes and teams to achieve results quicker. His strategies vastly improve your performance to achieve outstanding results.
John’s athletes become leaders going on to captain national teams in a variety of sports. The program is simple, clear and easy to action. This is why his athletes enjoy the multiplication effect.
Every athlete or team John works with develops laser focus on what’s required and how to achieve their targets.
His athletes and teams get the results!
Featured On
How it works?
Even though every athlete requires a tailored mindset program, the formula to fast track success is the same.
While Working with John, his athletes achieved:
Frequently Asked Questions
Does John Novak provide sports mindset coaching to athletes in New Zealand?
A: Yes. John Novak is the online mindset coach New Zealand athletes and teams book via Zoom or video call. He has a proven track record working with New Zealand athletes including Dallin Watene-Zelezniak – Dally M Winger of the Year 2023 and New Zealand International rugby league player – whose story was featured in the New Zealand Herald. He has also worked with Doey Choi, 2019 New Zealand Women’s Amateur Golf Champion. All sessions are conducted online at times that suit New Zealand time zones.
How can mindset coaching help a New Zealand rugby league or rugby union player?
A: Rugby is New Zealand’s national game and the mental demands of performing at club, provincial, Super Rugby, and international level are immense. John Novak has worked as Head Mindset Coach at several NRL clubs – Manly Sea Eagles (NRL Premiers 2011), Canterbury Bulldogs (Grand Finalists 2012 and 2014), and Sydney Roosters – and has directly coached New Zealand international players including Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (NZ Warriors) and Iwi Hauraki (Sydney Roosters). His program covers composure under pressure, error recovery, team culture, and the mental resilience that separates elite from average in contact sport.
Can mindset coaching help a New Zealand golfer?
A: Yes. Golf is one of John’s primary specialisations and he has direct experience coaching New Zealand golfers. He worked with Doey Choi, who won the 2019 New Zealand Women’s Amateur Championship. He also coached Harrison Endycott, who improved his world amateur ranking from 2200 to 390 in a single year – the same framework is directly applicable to New Zealand golf. His golf program covers pre-shot routines, post-shot reset, competition composure, and the mental game strategies that close the gap between practice performance and competition performance.
What sports does John Novak coach for New Zealand athletes?
A: John Novak provides online mindset coaching to New Zealand athletes across rugby league, rugby union, cricket, golf, netball, rowing, athletics, swimming, and many other sports. His 25+ years and 60+ sports experience means he understands the specific mental demands of each sport and can tailor his program to any New Zealand athlete at any level – from club sport through to Black Caps, All Blacks, Silver Ferns, or Olympic representation.
Has John Novak's work been recognised in New Zealand media?
A: Yes. John Novak was featured in a major New Zealand Herald article covering his work with Dallin Watene-Zelezniak – New Zealand Warriors rugby league player and Dally M Winger of the Year 2023. The article described how John’s Boomerang Effect program transformed Dallin’s career and mental wellbeing, with Dallin’s partner quoted as saying: ‘He’s the king of resilience now – physically, mentally, emotionally.’ The full article is available in the Media section of this website.
How do I book an online sports mindset coaching session from New Zealand?
A: Contact John Novak Sport through the contact form on this website or email directly. Sessions are conducted via Zoom at times that suit New Zealand time zones – morning sessions in Australia align well with New Zealand business hours. A first session runs 60 to 90 minutes and covers an assessment of your current mental performance, the key areas to develop, and an introduction to the Boomerang Effect framework. Sessions can be booked individually or as part of a structured weekly or fortnightly program tailored to your competition calendar.
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