The PLAY BIG Mental Performance

Coaching System Certification

The Shortest Path Between Where You Are and Where You Want to Be as a Mental Performance Coach

“If there's no Tom Hanson then there's no Diamyn Hall.  Dr. Tom Hanson is the #1 best person to learn from about mental performance coaching.  All of the content and skills you're going to learn throughout the process are going to be incredible.”

-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 individual. His ability to break down the mental game into practical, actionable strategies is second to none. The concepts of acting big, breathing big, and committing big provide a clear structure for athletes to perform at their highest level. If you’re serious about helping athletes unlock their full potential, this course is a must!”

-Chad Hermansen, Mental Edge Performance, Former first round pick and Major League Baseball Player

“Dr. Tom Hanson’s Play Big program was a total game changer for me. It gave me not just the knowledge but the real-world tools to confidently work with athletes. The live community and hands-on approach set it apart from other programs, providing accountability and practical application. Since completing it, I’ve grown from helping friends’ kids to building a steady stream of referrals and team clients. I highly recommend it to anyone serious about mental performance coaching!”

- Lindsay Beaudreau, Aurora, Colorado

“Dr. Tom Hanson’s Play Big mental performance certification gave me the clarity and tools I needed to excel personally and professionally. His Mental Mechanics Model has helped me and my athletes become more confident, consistent, and perform at our best. Whether you’re a coach, athlete, or in any performance-driven field, this program is a game-changer. If I were you, I’d sign up yesterday!”

- Scott McCord, Elite Performance Coaching

"Mental performance is key in athletics, academics, business—really, in life. As coaches, we focus on physical skills, but true resilience, determination, and clutch performance come from mental strength. Play Big Academy gave me the hands-on tools to build mentally strong athletes and become a better coach. I highly recommend it."

- Coach Eric Batchler, Hardball HQ

“Dr. Tom Hanson has been an invaluable influence on my coaching for over 25 years. His ability to break things down into simple, teachable concepts has helped me grow and better support my athletes. If you get the chance to work with him, take it—you’ll learn a ton!”

-Tony Vlahovic

“Dr. Tom Hanson’s Play Big program completely transformed how I coach mental performance. I needed a structured, step-by-step system to help my athletes with focus and confidence, and his ABCs approach—acting, breathing, and commitment—delivered. My clients are now more resilient, focused, and self-assured. If you want a game-changing program to elevate your coaching, this is it!”

-Jason Medlock

The Mission

The mission for this training program is to develop you into a world-class mental game coach who empowers athletes to Excel, Enjoy, and Evolve through their athletic experience and beyond - regardless of the mental game coaching abilities and experience you currently possess. 

This certification will elevate your: 

Competence. We'll provide a proven system to guide your work, while also developing your ability to intuitively respond as each situation demands. You'll become highly competent in assessment, planning, coaching interventions, and creating lasting change. 

Confidence. You'll emerge confident in your ability to free performers from mental limitations so they can fully express their talents. This goes beyond transferring information - it's a transformation that up-levels you as a coach and human being. 

Credibility. You'll earn a distinguished certification that lends credibility and visibility to your mental coaching services in the marketplace. 

Upon completion, you'll be capable of changing lives through the heightened self-awareness and mental skills you impart. Get ready to help athletes play their biggest and have their absolute best experiences. 

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What You Get in the Program

This isn’t just a course—it’s a complete system designed to set you up for success with three essential pillars:

Content – You’ll get the Play Big Mental Performance Coaching System, a proven framework packed with the principles, tools, and strategies to coach the mental game effectively.   NOTE: I'm best known for my work in baseball and softball, but The System applies to all sports.  In fact, it applies in business/executive coaching as well -- I've done a ton of that for the past 20 years.

Coaching – Ongoing guidance from me throughout the program, plus lifetime access, so you always have the support you need.

Community – Join a group of like-minded coaches, sharing the journey, learning from each other, and growing together.  You’re not in this alone—you’ll have everything you need to stop wishing you were working with athletes, coaches and teams, and start doing it. 

Whether you want to create or grow your mental performance coaching business or you're an on-the-field coach looking to give your players the best possible experience, this program is the straightest path to making it happen.

I've distilled 40 years of coaching the mental game into a step-by-step system you can implement immediately. As you gain experience and apply the coaching principles, frameworks, skills, and tools I hand you, you’ll naturally develop your own style.

It’s like learning to dance—at first, you follow the fundamental steps. But with practice, you’re flowing with confidence, making an impact, and enjoying the process.

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What is your Vision for the course? What are your goals for me?

I love the question: “What would you love to have happen?”

I consider that the Magic Question because of how it directs the focus of the person you ask it to.

I asked it to myself about my coaching program and came up with the following vision for you.

Here's My Vision for You, which I consider the promise of the program:

I see you smiling with deep satisfaction knowing you made a huge difference in the performance and life of an athlete, a coach, or an entire team.  And then doing it over and over again.

It’s a great buzz, isn’t it?    

You’ve always loved coaching, but now it’s at a whole new level.

I see you talking with an athlete one-on-one and then a whole team.  You’re in the zone, in flow, just like you want them to be, because you know what you’re doing.

You love helping people with their mental game.  It doesn’t seem like work because it’s so enjoyable.  You’re a highly skilled and confident mental performance coach capable of driving real transformation at a level far beyond what you’re now capable of.

You’re a guide who can unlock an athlete's or performer's potential by helping them change their psychological and emotional state. No longer held back by self-doubt or negative patterns, you allow athletes to experience the freedom of playing big when they most want and need to.

You have a certification that eases your access to athletes and teams you want to work with, and, more importantly, after earning that certification you’ll be so good they’re happy they let you speak with them!

THAT's what I'm committed to creating for you.  That or something better.

Ultimately, though, I can't do it for you.  You'll have to commit to doing the work (which won't feel like work...).

Will The Classes Be Recorded?

Yes.  You’ll get immediate access to the class recordings and Q and A sessions.  You’ll have an app so you can listen on your phone anytime.

AND you'll have easy access to all course content and the Community discussion area where you can share and learn with other course participants.

Who is Dr. Tom Hanson and why learn from him?

With over 40 years of coaching for peak performance, Dr. Tom Hanson is a pioneering authority in the field of mental game training. His credentials and experience include:

 Master's and Ph.D. in sport psychology

 Studied under renowned experts like Dr. Bob Rotella, Dr. Ken Ravizza, and Dr. Dan Gould

 Co-author of "Heads-Up Baseball", lauded as the "bible of mental toughness"

 Mental performance coach for the New York Yankees, Texas Rangers,

Hitting coach at the University of Virginia

 Tenured professor and head baseball coach at Skidmore College

 Author of "PLAY BIG: Mental Toughness Secrets for the Next Level"

 Coached business leaders at Microsoft, Verizon, Pepperidge Farms and more

 Certified in cutting-edge techniques like Tapping, Havening, and other modalities

 23+ years specializing in helping athletes overcome "the yips"

 Author of "Who Will Do What By When?" on improving organizational accountability

Many current elite mental coaches point to Hanson's past works like "Heads-Up Baseball" as their original inspiration - either saving their playing career or launching their coaching journey.

By learning from Hanson, you tap into one of the most comprehensive and proven systems for mental performance excellence and have full access to his knowledge and professional experience.

How long is the certification program?

You go at your own pace.

The program has

-Lifetime access to the content and community, and 9 months access to coaching from Dr. Tom Hanson

-You get certified when you complete requirements.  How long that takes is up to you.

Being certified means far more than just knowledge - it means you have embodied wisdom through experience, built skills through practice, and possess the confidence to truly own this work. The mantra is: Know it, Do it, Own it.

You will own it.

What specific topics and skills are covered?

You will walk away with a complete system for elite mental performance coaching.

You'll learn Dr. Hanson's proven "Play Big" system and also be challenged to mold the concepts into your own personalized approach.  Some topics and skills include:

 -The Play Big ABCs: A powerful tool for developing pitch-by-pitch/play-by-play focus

-Human Design Models: For diagnosing the root causes of performance issues

 -The FundaMentals: Deep dives into foundational tools such as imagery, relaxation, self-talk, breathing, posture

 -Emotion Release Techniques: Science-backed methods like Tapping and Havening that work at a deeper level than most tools.  They allow athletes to let go of negative emotions fast and break through limiting beliefs.  These are not yet normalized in the sports world, but they are my most powerful tools.  These tools will empower you to create experiences for athletes you would not have thought possible.

 -The Art of Mental Game Coaching: It's one thing to know what to DO with athletes.  You'll learn that here.  But the real secret is in BEING a great mental game coach.  I will guide you toward transforming into the "beingness" you need to 

You'll practice it all and "get it into your body," not just your head.

What is the time commitment for coursework?

You'll have a 90-minute live class each week, plus assignments focused on applying that week's lessons through practice with athletes you currently work with or coach (or other volunteers). The workload allows you to easily integrate this training into your existing activities.

I'm overwhelmed with all that I read and listen to about mental performance. Will you give me a system I can follow?

I've heard many mental game coaches say they're overwhelmed with all the knowledge they consume.

They love learning, but have a hard time organizing it all so they feel confident to go out and work with athletes, teams, and coaches. 

You will get a system that is clear and step-by-step. 

You can follow it and know you’re going to improve an athlete or team’s performance, enjoyment, and satisfaction, and you know you’ve given them an experience that will enhance their lives off the field long after they're done playing.

And you will have the wisdom, insight, awareness and skillset to know when the athlete would be best served by doing something different than that step-by-step system!

Ultimately, as you move through the program and beyond, you will naturally develop your own system.  

Know it, Do it, Own it.

What will I get from this certification program?

This cutting-edge program will equip you with a comprehensive system for helping athletes and other performers excel, enjoy, and evolve through their performance experiences. You'll learn:

-Proven mental performance frameworks, strategies, tools and skills...freeing you to coach with confidence, structure, and impact.

-A step-by-step process for coaching performers that you can make your own...allowing you to guide others through a transformative, personal experience.

-How to develop credibility through the certification...opening doors to market yourself as an authority worthy of trust.

-The unshakeable confidence to be the coach and leader you want to be...unleashing you to make a powerful, lasting difference without doubts.

You'll gain knowledge of first principles and essential mental frameworks that enable you to avoid information overload and navigate the complexities with clarity, not confusion. Through guided practice, you'll come to embody wisdom and skills, developing an authentic coaching style that enables you to show up genuinely, authentically, as yourself.  Comfortable in your own skin.

Ultimately, you'll have the ability to free athletes to play at their highest levels and find out how good they can be, uninhibited by mental barriers. You'll experience the deep satisfaction of helping others evolve as performers and human beings.

What qualifications or background is required?

The only requirement is a commitment to 1) developing yourself, and 2) 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.

Is it fully online or are there in-person components?

The entire certification curriculum is delivered remotely via online classes and materials. There are no required in-person training components for maximal flexibility.

You can access everything from any computer, including an app on your phone.

How much access, coaching and feedback will I get to you personally?

You won't watch a video of me teaching, I will personally lead each live class session and host regular office hours to answer all your questions. 

You'll also have access to a private community forum where I'll be active, ensuring you get personal support.

Each class will be recorded and you'll have access immediately and indefinately.

Do you provide career support after certification?

While formal career placement isn't included, I will guide you in that area for certified graduates exploring their coaching opportunities.

The final segment of the course is whichever you want it to be:

Setting yourself up as a business.  

Integrating the System into your coaching of a team or individual sport.

The program will take you from being stuck on the launch pad longing to be coaching, to being in orbit living your Dream.

“Dr. Tom is the best! He works with our Florida State coaching staff and program, bringing invaluable mindset strategies and tools to navigate the mental game. We’re so grateful for his impact. Go Noles!”

- Lonnie Alameda, Head Coach, Florida State Softball

“Dr. Tom Hanson has been a trusted mentor for years, providing the extra edge our team needs. He keeps things simple, focused, and impactful, helping our pitchers and players elevate their game. His guidance has been instrumental to our success on and off the field.”

-Trisha Ford, Head Coach, Texas A & M Softball

Dr. Tom Hanson: Helping You Excel, Enjoy, and Evolve.

Submit your information below or book a call with Dr. Tom to talk more about the program.