As the summer draws to a close, fall sports are in full swing on campus, with athletes preparing for the upcoming season.  

The football team arrived at the end of August, kicking off preseason training, while the boys soccer and girls volleyball programs recently returned from training trips. Joining them back on campus last week were the girls and boys cross country teams, boys water polo, field hockey, and girls soccer, all gearing up for a competitive fall.  

In addition to their rigorous two-a-day practices, preseason athletes focused on overall well-being through yoga sessions with the school’s instructor, engaging talks with a sports psychologist, and a variety of team-building activities designed to strengthen camaraderie and boost performance. Energy is high, and the teams are ready to hit the ground running as they prepare for what promises to be an exciting season. Here is a look at opening days competitions. 

Devin Markle, a clinical sports psychologist from Quinnipiac University, worked with preseason athletes on cultivating a successful mindset in sports. In a session with the athletes on Wednesday, September 4, in the Olcott Center, Ms. Markle explained that her approach centers on three key pillars: confidence, clarity, and control, each working together to create a mental foundation that empowers athletes to perform at their best.  

Confidence is often at the core of the mental game that separates good athletes from great ones, Ms. Markle said. It is not something that just appears; it’s built through intentional habits, one of which is self-talk. Athletes can harness the power of their inner dialogue to reinforce belief in their abilities. She noted that humans have 60,000 to 80,000 thoughts per day, with about 80 percent of their thoughts being negative. To balance out the negative, Ms. Markle encouraged the use of “I will…” statements — simple but powerful declarations like “I will stay focused during the game” or “I will give my best effort.” These affirmations serve as mental cues to remind athletes of their potential, shifting their mindset away from doubt and towards success.  

As Ms. Markle moved on to the concept of control, she highlighted the importance of recognizing what athletes can and cannot control. In sports, there are many external factors — including referees’ decisions, the weather, and even the actions of opponents — that are out of an athlete’s hands. Instead of dwelling on uncontrollable variables, Ms. Markle urged the athletes to focus on what they can control: their effort, preparation, and attitude. By doing so, athletes reduce distractions and perform with greater intensity. The key to mastering control, according to Ms. Markle, lies in focus. When athletes channel their energy into the tasks within their reach, they not only improve their performance, but also feel more grounded and confident.  

Clarity, the final piece of Ms. Markle’s mental framework, is about knowing your “why” — the deeper motivation behind your hard work and commitment to the sport. For some, it may be the love of competition, while for others it might be about personal growth or achieving a specific goal. Whatever the reason, having clarity gives athletes a sense of direction and purpose, especially when the work gets tough. With a clear “why,” the long hours of practice and the challenges of competition become more meaningful, fueling an athlete’s drive to succeed.  

Throughout her session, Ms. Markle weaved together these three elements — confidence, control, and clarity — showing the athletes that mental preparation is just as critical as physical training.  

The dialogue with Ms. Markle was timely for all athletes, with opening competitions just around the corner. Her advice gave athletes mental tools to handle the pressures of competition, the steadying force achieved by focusing on controllable factors like effort and attitude, and the renewed commitment that stems from identifying one’s personal motivations.  

Before working at Quinnipiac, Ms. Markle was a psychological assistant for the Fulton Psychological Group, where she specialized in working with 4- to 18-year-olds, counseling for mental health concerns as well as performance psychology. In 2018, she started her own private practice, which specialized in helping athletes and business people to reach their highest level of performance. From August 2015 to 2018, she served as the co-director of mindset development at the Mamba Sports Academy, where she was responsible for training athletes of all ages and levels and implementing mental skills training with individuals. In addition, she helped design the NBA and NFL Pre-Draft Training Program while working with the Mamba Sports Academy. Ms. Markle earned a bachelor's degree in psychology and English at the University of Vermont. She went on to earn a master's degree in education in counseling and sport psychology from Boston University and a doctorate in clinical psychology from California Southern University.