The first time I was introduced to the benefits of working with a Mental Performance Coach (MPC) in a meaningful way was through my involvement with Canada Basketball. The MPC helped athletes deal with the perceived pressure and anxiety of National Team camps and introduced the athletes to national team culture while setting the expectations for work in between formal camps. With this first-hand experience, I knew that when I had the opportunity to run my own USPORTS program I would include a Mental Performance Coach as a major part of our Integrated Support team. Some of the observed benefits I have found from having a MPC as an integral part of our team are: (1) Improved safety net for players when/if they are struggling. Inevitably in competitive sports, especially when it is combined with top-notch academics, people are going to need assistance. (2) Improved communication between players and coaching staff, especially in times of conflict. There are times (as a man in my early 40s) that I can empathize but not fully relate to the players, which can create breakdowns in communication. Working with a MPC can often help bridge the gap and mend fences when things go wrong. (3) Greater overall connection to team culture and themes. By involving our MPC while building and reinforcing our team culture has helped make messages 'stickier' in addition to providing creative ways to make abstract concepts more understandable and achievable. (4) Improved on-court performance related to confidence and motivation. So much of sport surrounds the idea of self-belief and self-discipline, and by having a MPC we can better develop Self-Discipline. It also helps us develop Self-Belief even when the player is not getting the reward of playing time, scholarship money or public recognition of performance. Overall, by working with a professional MPC, we can structure our Mental Performance training based on what the players need and include it in our periodized yearly plan. Rather than teaching only what we feel comfortable with, we can lean on the MPC's expertise and structure our training in a meaningful way. Some of the areas that have been a big success with our team have been receiving coaching, developing a growth mindset, reframing situations, imagery, developing healthy habits, team building, self-compassion and so many more. The reason why we continue to invest in having a team MPC is because our athletes have shown that when they are equipped with the proper mental skills they get more enjoyment from the student-athlete experience and perform better on and off-court. Dealing with the pressures and anxiety that, by nature, come from competitive situations allows our athletes to better achieve their potential and enjoy the experience.