Most common question: “What is a mental performance coach?” People often confuse mental performance resources with mental health resources—two different departments in the Phillies organization. “I’m helping the player’s performance from a mentality standpoint: how to maintain your calm under pressure, how to focus on the right things. When people hear that they say, ‘That’s amazing’ and ‘I need that.’”
Why this profession: “I had the yips playing softball at the University of Virginia. I had never experienced a mental block that stopped me from being able to play a sport that I’d been doing since I was eight years old. So, I started working with a mental performance coach. I felt like I ran out of time in college, so it’s really been a passion of mine to work with athletes to help them develop their mental game before they even get to a block.”
Where to find her: Cipolloni works primarily with rookie-level players in Clearwater, Florida “on the field, in the dugout, in the batting cages, in the bullpen, working side-by-side with other coaches to help the players be the best version of themselves they can be.”
How to keep your calm in front of 43,000 fans: “Some people actually thrive in that environment. They’re using that adrenaline to focus in on what they need to do. For others, it’s learning how to regulate emotions. We work a lot on how to breathe correctly and focus on the right things at the right time. When the pitcher releases the ball, a hitter can’t be focused on ‘wow, these fans are all here and, oh my gosh, what happens if I strike out?’”
