Commanding Performance: Sport Psychology Workbook for Cheerleading Paperback – February 10, 2026

Unlock the secrets to peak mental performance with Commanding Performance.This revolutionary guide doesn’t just talk about mental skills—it trains you to master them. Like having a personal sport psychologist in your corner, this book is designed to transform your mental game through hands-on practice and real-world application.Learn. Train. Grow.Just as strength, flexibility, and endurance improve with consistent training, mental toughness requires deliberate conditioning. Commanding Performance bridges the gap between knowing what to do and being able to do it under pressure—combining expert insight with actionable mental training drills designed specifically for cheer athletes.What Sets This Book Apart:Practical Drills:Featuring 40 carefully designed mental conditioning drills, this book helps you build focus, confidence, emotional control, and resilience—skills essential for clean routines and clutch performances.Pro Tips:Get professional guidance throughout the book to help you apply each drill effectively in practice, at competitions, and during high-pressure moments.Comprehensive Coverage:Learn the four core parts of mental conditioning, each aimed at building a strong psychological foundation for consistency and peak performance.Real-Life Application:Take part in the Commanding Performance Cheer Competition—realistic cheer scenarios that train you to use your mental skills before routines, during performances, and after competitions.Whether you’re a competitive cheerleader striving for stronger performances or a coach looking to build a mentally tough squad, Commanding Performance is your ultimate guide to mastering the mental side of the sport.Endorsed by Top Cheerleaders and Professionals:“Having spent the last decade training mental agility in high performing professionals and collegiate athletes and teaching these concepts in university classrooms - I am so excited to see this sports psychology book for cheer. Dr Miles and Dr. Commander combine their expertise in the field and their lived experience in cheer to create an accessible workbook for young athletes to train their brains! The material is trustworthy, evidence-based and the activities offer tools that families, athletes, gyms, & coaches can pick up and use right away for a more agile mental game.”-Tegan Jemma Reeves, PhD; Owner Allogility: Performance Psychology and Nervous System Training, former Executive Director at USASF, & member of the first all-girl nationally competitive cheer team at Iowa State University "As a former Los Angeles Laker Girl and current psychologist working with athletes and performers, I know firsthand how important the mental side of sport is. I only wish I had a workbook like this growing up. This is truly a gem of a resource for a population that deserves accessible, meaningful support. This workbook gives so much voice to experiences cheerleaders rarely see put into words, with lessons that deeply resonated with me and feel especially important for both cheerleaders and coaches. I love this workbook. I wholeheartedly recommend it and am rooting for you as you read and apply it to your life!"-Lacey Everett, PsyD "Through my experience in both competitive and Division I collegiate cheer, I’ve seen firsthand how critical the mental side of performance is and how often it’s overlooked. This book translate sport psychology concepts into clear, practical tools that are directly applicable to cheer. The exercises are easy to understand and genuinely relevant to the pressures cheerleaders face in practice and competition. I highly recommend this book to athletes, coaches, and programs looking to elevate performance at every level." -Stephanie (Watts) Kalaf, Former UNC Cheerleader Read more