The Mental Side of Drafts and Free Agency: Navigating Transitions in Professional Sport
Drafts and free agency in pro sports are often framed as moments of achievement and/or milestones that signal arrival, validation, or opportunity. And they are. Yet they are also periods of profound psychological transition. For athletes entering and navigating careers in professional leagues such as the NFL, CFL, NHL, PWHL, MLB, NBA, or WNBA (just to name a few) these moments are not simply contractual or logistical. They represent identity shifts, relational change, and uncertainty under public scrutiny. Far beyond phone calls, meetings, and contract negotiations is the very real yet rarely talked about human experience these athletes and their families experience during these times of uncertainty and change. Understanding and tending to the mental side of these transitions is not an indulgence; it is a necessary component of sustainable performance and well-being.
About the Author
Dr. Chantale Lussier, Ph.D, MPC
Dr. Chantale Lussier, Ph.D. is a mental performance coach and consultant, the podcast host of Rising aHead, and the Founder and CEO of Elysian Insight.
She has worked with hundreds of nationally and internationally-ranked competitive, elite and pro athletes (CFL, NFL, NHL), performing artists, business leaders, as well as military and emergency-service professionals (police, fire, first responders, etc).
She is committed to elevating minds and cultures of excellence by optimizing mindset, coaching mental skills, teaching mental health literacy, and supporting high performers achieve breakthroughs, peak performances, as well as healthy and successful career transitions.
To book an appointment with Chantale, or to invite her as speaker, consultant, or coach for your team or organization, please click HERE.