The strongest competitors don’t just train their bodies.
Mental performance coaching at Grand Slam USA with Kelsey O'Connor, MSW, CMPC — for athletes who want their preparation to hold up when it counts.
Why mental performance?
Physical ability can take an athlete far — but mental performance is what helps them perform at their best when it matters most. Whether it’s handling pressure in a championship game, bouncing back after a mistake, or maintaining confidence during a slump, the mental side of the game often separates good athletes from great ones.
Mental performance training gives athletes practical tools to improve focus, build confidence, manage emotions, overcome adversity, and develop resilience. By strengthening their mindset alongside their physical skills, athletes compete with greater consistency, trust their preparation, and enjoy the game more.
At Grand Slam USA we believe player development goes beyond mechanics. A strong mindset builds life skills athletes carry into school, relationships, and whatever comes after the game.
Focus
Lock in pitch to pitch, and get back to the moment after a mistake instead of carrying it into the next at-bat.
Confidence
Build belief that holds up in a championship game, not just in the cage on a good day.
Managing pressure
Practical tools for nerves, frustration, and the innings where everything speeds up.
Resilience
Come out of a slump faster, and keep a bad week from turning into a bad season.
“Baseball is 90% mental and the other half is physical.”
“You have to take care of your brain just like you take care of your body.”
“It's really easy to let positivity distract you from what you're struggling with.”
“What you are thinking, what shape your mind is in, is what makes the biggest difference of all.”
How Kelsey can help
Kelsey O’Connor, MSW, CMPC
Kelsey is the founder of Life Beyond Labels, a keynote speaker, a Certified Mental Performance Consultant®, and a former NCAA Division I student-athlete. She helps athletes build the mental skills to perform with confidence and thrive both in competition and beyond sport.
She competed on a nationally ranked travel softball team and went on to play at NC State, until a career-ending injury in 2021 forced her to medically retire. That experience transformed her perspective and sparked a passion for athlete mental health — she went on to advocate for stronger mental health resources and coach education at NC State.
In 2023 she delivered NC State’s commencement address, a speech that went on to reach millions worldwide. She earned her Master of Social Work from NC State and a Graduate Certificate in Applied Sport Psychology from the University of Western States, working with AthleteTalk along the way, before earning the CMPC credential.
Kelsey has worked with teams across the country. Her speaking clients include the 8x National Champion University of Oklahoma softball program and Yale Student-Athlete Mentors, and she has shared the stage with NFL and MLB Hall of Fame athletes.
MSW, CMPC
Master of Social Work from NC State, and a Certified Mental Performance Consultant® through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP).
Keynote speaker
Her 2023 NC State commencement address reached more than 70 million views across 27+ countries.
Division I athlete
Played softball at NC State until a career-ending injury in 2021 — the experience that led her into mental performance.
Book a mental performance session
Sessions are booked like any other lesson at Grand Slam USA. Want to read more about Kelsey’s approach, her clinics, and the mission behind Life Beyond Labels first? Her own site has the full picture.