Why UK and European Athletes Choose John Novak
In the UK and Europe, the term “mental skills coach” is commonly used alongside “sports mindset coach” – both describe exactly what John Novak provides. His Boomerang Effect methodology has been tested and proven across Olympic Games, World Championships, and professional leagues in Australia and internationally. UK athletes competing in cricket, football, rugby, golf, swimming, athletics, and tennis will find John’s approach directly applicable to the mental demands of their sport.
- Evian Championship winner Grace Kim – the Evian Championship is held in France annually
- Worked with Deborah-Anne De La Harpe, Perth Glory W-League and Irish National Football Team
- Worked with Linn Sandstrom – WBA Intercontinental Super Flyweight Champion (Sweden)
- Worked with Matt Carraro – NSW Waratahs, Bath (England), and Toulon (France) rugby union
- James Magnussen – 2x World Champion, 100m Freestyle Swimming (multiple World Championships
- Melissa Wu – 5x Olympian, Olympic medallist
- Jarmila Gajdosova – World Ranked Professional Tennis Player
- 25+ years and 1,000+ athletes coached across 60+ sports worldwide
- Head Mindset Coach at NRL, AFL, and A-League professional clubs for 15+ years
- Keynote speaker at Australia/NZ Sport Management Association Conferences
- Online coaching via Zoom – sessions available to fit UK and European time zones
- Specific experience with football, rugby, golf, cricket, boxing, tennis, track & field
As a UK/European 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 UK and European Athletes
- Managing the intense media and public scrutiny that surrounds Premier League football, England cricket, and major European sport
- Performing consistently across long European seasons – Premier League, Pro14, European Tour, county cricket
- The mental demands of European championship and cup competition – knockout pressure and elimination stakes
- Building resilience in the British and European sporting cultures where public criticism can be particularly sharp
- Managing the mental step up from domestic competition to European and international level
- Performing in challenging weather and crowd conditions unique to British and European sport
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 Sports Mindset Program Covers for UK and European Athletes
Pre-competition mental preparation – routines that produce peak performance on demand
Confidence and self-belief frameworks built on the Boomerang Effect methodology
Pressure management – staying composed and performing when the stakes are highest
Focus and concentration strategies – remaining present in the moment under distraction
Resilience and bounce-back – the mental skills to recover quickly from setbacks
Online coaching via Zoom – all sessions conducted remotely to fit UK and European schedules
Services Available for UK & Europe Athletes
Individual Athlete Mental Skills Coaching
One-on-one online sessions via video call for UK and European athletes in any sport. Sessions are scheduled to accommodate UK and Central European time zones. John works with athletes in cricket, football, rugby, golf, swimming, tennis, cycling, rowing, athletics, and all other sports.
Cricket Mental Skills Coaching
PParticularly relevant for UK cricketers at county level and above, school and club cricketers, and England pathway athletes. John Novak has worked with Australian international cricketers and understands the mental demands of the game at every level.
Team and Club Programs
Mental skills workshops and ongoing programs for UK sports clubs, academy programs, and professional organisations. Programs are adapted to the specific demands of UK sport culture and competition.
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!
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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 the UK?
A: Yes. John Novak provides online sports mindset coaching to athletes across the United Kingdom and Europe via Zoom or video call. He has direct experience with UK and European athletes including Deborah-Anne De La Harpe (Irish National Football Team), Linn Sandstrom (WBA Intercontinental Champion, Sweden), and Matt Carraro (Bath and Toulon rugby union). All sessions are conducted remotely at times that suit UK and European time zones.
Can mindset coaching help a Premier League footballer?
A: Yes. Football is one of John Novak’s primary specialisations and the mental demands of professional football at Premier League and Championship level are areas he understands deeply from three seasons as Mindset Coach at Sydney FC A-League. His football program addresses goalkeeper error-recovery, striker confidence through goal droughts, penalty and set-piece composure, long-season mental management, and the team culture programs that build the collective resilience that wins league titles.
Does John Novak understand English cricket and county cricket?
A: Yes. John has worked with Australian Test cricketers across multiple Ashes series preparations, including Jake Weatherald (Australia’s Test opener in the 2025-26 Ashes). His understanding of Test cricket’s unique mental demands – concentration across long innings, bowling through fatigue, and the specific pressure of performing against England – gives him a direct connection to the English cricket environment. His program is relevant for county cricketers, England pathway players, and club cricketers throughout England and Wales.
Has John Novak worked with European athletes?
A: Yes. John has worked with several European athletes including Linn Sandstrom (WBA Intercontinental Super Flyweight Champion from Sweden), Deborah-Anne De La Harpe (Irish National Football Team), and Matt Carraro (who played for Bath in England and Toulon in France). He also coached the Evian Championship winner Grace Kim – the Evian Championship is held annually in France and is one of the five LPGA Major Championships.
How is sports mindset coaching different from sports psychology in the UK?
A: Sports psychology in the UK is typically a chartered profession regulated by the British Psychological Society, focused on clinical assessment and treatment of psychological issues. Sports mindset coaching is a performance-focused discipline – practical, fast-action, and directly targeted at peak performance under competition pressure. John Novak’s Boomerang Effect program builds the specific mental skills that improve results: confidence, resilience, focus, composure, and the consistent positive mindset that separates good athletes from great ones.
How do I book an online sports mindset coaching session from the UK or Europe?
A: Contact John Novak Sport through the contact form on this website or email directly. Sessions are conducted via Zoom at times that suit UK and European time zones – early morning Australian sessions align well with UK afternoon and evening. A first session runs 60 to 90 minutes and covers 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.
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