Now Enrolling — Limited Spots Available

The Play Big
Mental Performance
Coaching Certification

The shortest path between where you are and where you want to be as a mental performance coach — built on 40 years of proven results with MLB teams, Fortune 500 companies, and elite athletes.

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Trusted by coaches and athletes at
New York Yankees Texas Rangers Baltimore Orioles Minnesota Twins FSU Seminoles Texas A&M Microsoft Verizon Pepperidge Farm University of Virginia Skidmore College New York Yankees Texas Rangers Baltimore Orioles Minnesota Twins FSU Seminoles Texas A&M Microsoft Verizon Pepperidge Farm University of Virginia Skidmore College
Hear It From Dr. Tom

Everything you need to know about the certification.

What This Program Delivers

Three pillars that elevate your coaching.

Whether you're brand new or already coaching, the Play Big certification builds the foundation you need to transform athlete performance — and your career.

01

Competence

A proven, repeatable system for assessment, planning, coaching interventions, and lasting change. You'll know exactly what to do in every session — and why it works.

02

Confidence

The freedom to help any performer transcend mental limitations. You'll coach from a place of certainty — not guesswork — and athletes will feel the difference immediately.

03

Credibility

A distinguished certification that increases your marketplace visibility. Graduate with a credential that opens doors — from team positions to private practice to speaking engagements.

What Coaches Are Saying

Results from real coaches.

"

If there's no Tom Hanson then there's no Diamyn Hall. Dr. Tom Hanson is the number one best person to learn from when it comes to the mental side of the game. His Play Big system changed not just how I coach, but how I see the entire game of baseball and human performance.

DH
Diamyn Hall
Mental Performance Coach, Baltimore Orioles
"

Dr. Tom Hanson's Play Big certification was a game changer for me as both a coach and former player. It gave me a complete system I could trust and a community of coaches who genuinely push each other to be better.

CH
Chad Hermansen
Former MLB First Round Pick — Mental Edge Performance
"

Dr. Tom Hanson's Play Big program was a total game changer for me. It gave me the clarity, tools, and confidence to actually help athletes transform — not just talk about the mental game.

LB
Lindsay Beaudreau
Certified Mental Performance Coach — Aurora, Colorado
"

Dr. Tom Hanson's Play Big mental performance certification gave me the clarity and tools I needed to take my coaching from good to elite. The step-by-step system is unlike anything else on the market.

SM
Scott McCord
Elite Performance Coaching
"

Mental performance is key in athletics, academics, business — really, in life. As coaches, we owe it to our athletes to understand the mental side deeply. Dr. Tom's certification is how you get there.

EB
Coach Eric Batchler
Hardball HQ
"

Dr. Tom has been an invaluable influence on my coaching for over 25 years. His Play Big system is the clearest, most complete framework for mental performance coaching that I have ever encountered.

TV
Tony Vlahovic
Performance Coach — 25-Year Dr. Tom Student
"

Dr. Tom Hanson's Play Big program completely transformed how I coach mental performance. My athletes are getting results faster, and I finally feel like I have a real system I can stand behind.

JM
Jason Medlock
Mental Performance Coach
"

Dr. Tom is the best. He works with our Florida State coaching staff and program — and the impact is visible. I recommend his certification to any coach who wants to operate at the highest level.

LA
Lonnie Alameda
Head Coach, Florida State Softball
Everything You Get

Built for real results.

Three core components that work together to make you a confident, credentialed, in-demand mental performance coach.

Content
The complete Play Big Mental Performance Coaching System — principles, tools, and strategies that work across all sports, business, and executive coaching environments. Lifetime access with mobile app.
Coaching
Ongoing personal guidance from Dr. Tom Hanson throughout the program. Live weekly 90-minute classes, regular office hours, and direct feedback on your coaching. 9 months of direct access, lifetime community access.
Community
A private network of like-minded coaches sharing the journey. Ask questions, share wins, and learn from peers and Dr. Tom in a dedicated forum with active daily participation.
Curriculum

Skills you'll master.

Every topic is designed for immediate application with your current athletes or clients — you'll be using it before the program is over.

Play Big ABCs Framework
Pitch-by-pitch and play-by-play focus development system
Human Design Models
Root cause diagnosis for any performance issue
The FundaMentals
Imagery, relaxation, self-talk, breathing, and posture
Emotion Release Techniques
Tapping and Havening for releasing negative emotion patterns
The Art of Mental Game Coaching
Being vs. doing — the philosophy that separates great coaches
Assessment & Planning Systems
Know exactly what to coach, when, and how — every session
Practical Application
Weekly assignments integrated directly with your current athletes
Business & Career Setup
Final segment customisable for private practice or team integration
90min
Live Weekly Classes
9mo
Direct Coaching Access
∞
Lifetime Content Access
100%
Online & Remote
Your Instructor

40 years coaching the mental edge.

Dr. Tom Hanson holds a Master's and Ph.D. in sport psychology, studying under legends Dr. Bob Rotella, Dr. Ken Ravizza, and Dr. Dan Gould — the architects of modern mental performance coaching.

He has spent four decades coaching peak performance at every level — from MLB teams and Fortune 500 boardrooms to college programs and individual athletes overcoming performance anxiety and the yips.

He is the co-author of Heads-Up Baseball, the definitive mental toughness reference, and author of Play Big: Mental Toughness Secrets for the Next Level and Who Will Do What By When?

Ph.D. Sport Psychology — studied under Rotella, Ravizza & Gould
MLB Coach — New York Yankees & Texas Rangers
Tenured Professor & Head Baseball Coach — Skidmore College
23+ years specialising in overcoming the yips
Certified in Tapping, Havening, and related modalities
Dr. Tom Hanson
Dr. Tom Hanson
Ph.D. Sport Psychology
Common Questions

Everything you need to know.

Yes. All live classes are recorded and available immediately after each session. You'll have indefinite access through the program portal and mobile app, so you can revisit any lesson at any time.
The program is self-paced with 9 months of direct coaching access from Dr. Tom. Content and community access are lifetime — you're never cut off from the materials or your fellow coaches after you graduate.
Fully online and remote. You can participate from anywhere in the world. Classes are hosted live via video, all content lives in the portal and mobile app, and the community forum is available 24/7.
Play Big Academy is designed as a hybrid experience. Course content is delivered through videos you watch on your own time, and twice a week you have access to Dr. Tom Hanson live on group Zoom calls — to ask questions, get coaching, and go deeper on what you're learning. You'll have lifetime access to all course content and future upgrades, plus nine months of direct coaching access to Dr. Tom.
Yes. The final segment of the program is customisable — whether you want to set up a private practice, integrate mental performance into an existing team or coaching role, or pursue speaking engagements. Dr. Tom provides guidance on opportunities available to graduates.
The only requirement is a commitment to developing yourself and helping others — particularly athletes — excel, enjoy, and evolve through participation. If you love the mental game, the mental aspects of performance, and want to help others reach their goals and create lives they love, you're qualified. The heart of the process is a one-on-one conversation with Dr. Tom Hanson — a rightness-of-fit conversation to explore whether the program is right for you and whether you're right for the program.
That's exactly what the Play Big system is designed to prevent. Everything is laid out in a clear, step-by-step progression. You'll build one skill at a time, applying each one immediately before moving to the next. And as your experience grows, the framework becomes entirely your own.
Ready to Start?

Take the next step toward your certification.

Submit your information below or book a call with Dr. Tom directly to talk through whether this program is right for you.

  • Proven system applicable across all sports and business coaching
  • 90-minute live weekly classes led personally by Dr. Tom
  • 9 months direct coaching access + lifetime content
  • Private community of certified mental performance coaches
  • Career guidance and marketplace credibility after graduation
Prefer to Talk First?

Book a call with Dr. Tom

Pick a time that works for you and speak directly with Dr. Tom about whether this programme is the right fit.