TOP LINE MENTAL GAME COACHING

We specialize in mental game coaching for athletes from all sports, experience levels, and backgrounds. Mental game coaching takes an athlete-centered approach which focuses on helping athletes build confidence and learn the mental skills necessary for athletic success. We are currently full for the 2025-2026 season. Please check back with us in early 2026 when spots may open up. 

SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT

For appointment policies, please visit: https://www.top-line-coaching.com/policies

SELECT

FEE: $120

  • Initial athlete assessment

  • 75 minute introductory coaching session

  • 60 minute ongoing coaching sessions

  • Post-session homework

  • Learn critical mental skills for optimal performance

  • Learn to compete with confidence and trust

  • Fully-encrypted video conference platform

Nicole Adams PhD

About Nicole J. Adams, PhD

Nicole Adams (formerly Gilinsky), PhD earned her bachelor's degree in Psychology from Rutgers University and her PhD in Educational Psychology specializing in Sport Psychology from Texas Tech University (Wreck 'Em!). Nicole has published works in the field of Self Determination Theory, exercise physiology, and Action Control Theory. Nicole has coached endurance athletes in triathlon, cycling, and running for over six years. She continues to develop her skills and knowledge in this field by attending conferences and continuing education seminars. Nicole is a former USAT Level 1 Coach and holds certifications as a USAC Level 3 Coach, and a Mental Game Coaching Professional (MGCP). Nicole is an avid athlete herself, racing in triathlon since 2001. She has completed 11 Iron distance triathlons and many half Iron, Olympic and Sprint races, including 3 overall wins. She achieved USAT All American status in 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2022. Nicole achieved first overall (F45-49) USAT ranking for the South Midwest region for 2022.

Nicole's Research

TOP LINE COACHING EXPERTISE

CONFIDENCE

The key to athletic performance, confidence permeates every aspect of an athlete's game from preparation to execution to handling success and failures. Mental game coaching focuses on building athletes' confidence organically so that it is stable and enduring.

FOCUS

The ability to focus and maintain concentration are essential skills for expert performance. Mental game coaching trains athletes to use mental skills that help them hone in on relevant cues and block out unhelpful distractions.

TRUST

Translating hard work from training to competition requires athletes to have a trusting mindset. Trust means letting go of consciously controlling mechanics in favor of natural and instinctive performance.

Dr. Nicole Adams’ Approach to Mental Game Coaching

Leveraging your Strengths to Compete with Confidence

Nicole is a certified Mental Game Coaching Professional (MGCP) and holds a PhD in Educational Psychology. With a strong research background in Social Cognitive Theory and self-regulation, Nicole practices from a strengths-based perspective and believes every athlete has the ability to get the best out of themselves with focused work on their mental game. Using the MGCP framework, Nicole works with athletes to determine their strengths and areas of potential improvement to create a mental game plan. 

The skills athletes learn in the mental coaching process are highly applicable and transferrable to multiple sports and other areas of life such as academics and business. The MGCP framework builds on basic foundational skills that can be practiced and applied across domains. 

Mental Coaching consulting fees include all athlete-coach communication, pre-consulting assessments, pre-competition planning, home based practice, and worksheets. 

FAQ

About Mental Game Coaching:

  • Mental game coaching is a process of discovering and implementing the mental skills needed to be successful in sports. Mental game coaching focuses on athletes' strengths and uses those strengths to build confidence in all aspects of sport. The mental skills you will learn are simple and easy to implement but they require focused training and a commitment to excellence. Similar to the way you train physically for your sport, mental skills require dedicated practice to be used effectively. As your coach, I will guide you and facilitate your skill acquisition so that you can use them with confidence and purpose.

  • Mental game coaching is suitable for athletes looking to get the best out of themselves at every level of sport. The keys to success with your mental game are drive and determination, a willingness to learn, and ability to communicate openly. Every athlete has the potential to succeed in their sport with the right attitude and a desire to seek excellence.

  • Start by submitting your details in the contact form at the top of this page so that we can schedule a 20-minute video chat. During this chat, we will discuss your concerns and goals so that we can determine a preliminary road map for your success.

  • The mental game coaching process begins with an introductory call which is followed by a written assessment called "AMAP". Once you complete and submit the AMAP, we will schedule our first session(s) to discover the main themes to focus on for your mental training. Follow up sessions will focus on learning new mental skills and implementing them in training and competition. Most sessions will be followed by brief homework assignments that will be discussed in the following session. These assignments will help you to learn more about your mental game and put you on the path to success.