WELLNESS: WHY SOME ATHLETES CHOKE AND OTHERS CLUTCH—EVEN WITH THE SAME SKILLS

The mindset difference that changes everything when the pressure’s on.

Each month, peak performance sports psychologist (and fellow parent) Dr. E tackles your toughest questions head-on.

Dear Dr. E.—
My athlete has the talent—they’ve proven it in practice over and over. But when the pressure’s on, something shifts. They tighten up, hesitate, and underperform. And the hardest part? Watching other athletes—some with less skill—step up and deliver when it counts. Why do some kids choke and others clutch up?
—Frustrated from the Sidelines

Dear Confused—
This is one of the most important—and misunderstood—questions in sports. What separates an athlete who chokes from one who clutches isn’t about effort, character, or even talent. It’s about what’s happening inside their mind at the exact moment it matters most.

When the stakes rise, so does internal pressure. And while some athletes use that as fuel, others get hijacked by it. Why? Because they enter what I call the Red Zone—a mental state where the brain shifts from performance mode to survival mode.

In the Red Zone:
• The prefrontal cortex (your athlete’s decision-making and focus center) gets overpowered.
• The amygdala (their emotional alarm system) takes the wheel.
• Their nervous system interprets the pressure as threat.

It doesn’t matter how much they’ve trained. When the brain feels like it’s drowning, instinct tightens, movements stiffen, and confidence collapses. That’s not weakness—it’s biology.

Here’s what that looks like on the field or court:
• They hesitate instead of trusting their instincts.
• They try to “think through” plays that should be automatic.
• They get stuck replaying mistakes instead of moving forward.
• And performance tanks—not from lack of preparation, but from mental overload.

So, what makes the difference?

Clutch athletes don’t have fewer nerves.

They’ve just trained their mindset to respond differently under pressure. They know how to:
• Recognize when they’re slipping into the Red Zone.
• Reset their body and breath to calm their system.
• Reframe their thoughts to shift from fear to focus.

And that training doesn’t just show up in crunch time—it’s what creates clutch time.

What can you do?

1. Stop calling it “mental toughness.” It’s not about pushing through. It’s about learning to manage the internal chaos. That takes skills, not slogans.
2. Help them expect the nerves—not fear them. Nerves mean it matters. Reframing that sensation as energy—not danger—can flip the script from panic to presence.
3. Get them the mindset tools they need. Physical skills don’t disappear under pressure. They just get blocked. When athletes learn how to shift out of the Red Zone and reset their brain midgame, their preparation finally pays off.

Because the truth is, clutch moments aren’t about being born fearless.

They’re about being trained for pressure. That’s what turns potential into performance—and talent into triumph.
—Dr. E

Talent may open the door—but mindset determines who walks through it. Dr. E equips athletes with the mental skills to rise under pressure and compete at their full potential. Learn more at EleVive.com.