My name is Lauren Penny and I am an international hockey player and performance mentor who works with hockey players of all levels who are looking to take a step up in their hockey and reach a higher level.

I am skilled in helping players boost their mental and physical toughness and passionate about coaching them beyond limiting beliefs until they achieve more than they would have thought possible. I help prepare players for success by teaching them how to deal with setbacks that get in the way of reaching your goals.

As a qualified Sports Mental Trainer, including NLP, psychology and life coaching I specialise in helping those with low confidence and those that get distracted and frustrated easily. I am also a fitness expert with more than a decade of experience in helping hockey players to become stronger, faster and more explosive and agile.

It is the unique combination of my knowledge and experience that make players of all levels from around the world keen to work with me. After working together, you will be left with no excuses as to why you can't reach your goals!

Why do some people make it and others don't despite very little difference in ability? This module discusses the differences between talent versus hard work, grit and determination. We also delve into getting out of your comfort zone, sacrifice and being accountable. This is the foundation of the course that teaches you that you can achieve anything you set your mind to as long as you are committed. It is time to be clear about what you want to achieve so that you know where you are and where you need to get to. This is a great starter module which will guide you to set clear and achievable objectives.

There is a reason why many believe that the mental part of the game is the most important part of sport, that's because it is. There are many great sports people who maybe haven't made it because of their lack of mental ability so we want to teach you how to get mentally tougher so that you can take a step to the next level. In this module we explain how the brain works so that you can use it to your advantage. We also talk about how to get motivated and getting rid of any limiting beliefs that you may have.

Finally, one of the most popular subjects is how to believe in yourself and build confidence. It is easy to say believe in yourself, but what does that actually mean? And how do you do that when you keep feeling like you are not good enough? Learn the secrets of how to use visualisation, affirmations and control your self talk. I also include a guided visualisation done by a top sport's psychologist which you can use to help get you 'into the zone' so that you are ready for a great performance.

Anyone who plays sport will at some point feel a fear of failure, get nervous, feel pressure from parents, coaches or yourself, be frustrated or struggle to concentrate and focus. In this module we will provide you with many tools which will help you to overcome these difficult emotions so that you can focus on being successful. We also teach you about how to 'get into the zone' for consistent performance as well as how to overcome high expectations and setbacks. This is one of the most important modules for those who 'choke' at game time and this module will help you change that.

Hockey players have to be fit to cover a lot of ground and be able to last 70 minutes but what kind of fitness is best? Too many coaches advise players that they should be doing long distance running to get fitter but research has shown that this is not only unproductive but also increases the risk of injury. We will cover how to assess to progress, which is essential in beginning any kind of training program as well as an ideal warmup and cool down routine which will be best for optimum performance. The last part of the module will explain the various forms of conditioning to get fitter for hockey and provide an overview of a pre-season program.

What makes one player get to the ball first or hit the ball harder than another? And why do some players get knocked off the ball easier than others? A lot of the time this is due to strength and power, which is an important part of any sport. Power is very important in hockey as it gives you the explosiveness you need, but often people forget that you can't have power without strength. This module includes a comprehensive done-for-you 16 week training program designed from pre-season through to advice and guidance for maintenance over the season. This module will help you to transfer your game so that you can get stronger and more explosive to get to the ball first.

Who doesn't want to be faster and more agile? It is one of, if not THE most dangerous skill in sport because no one can tackle you if you have run past them or already gained a 5 yard advantage over your opponent. Hockey is about not only being fast but also being able to change direction efficiently. If you don't know how to slow down or decelerate then how can you change direction quickly? This module teaches you the essentials of not only being faster (acceleration) but also the technique of how to change direction and react to turnovers quicker.

If you are serious about getting the most out of yourself then this module is as important as every other one. Most hockey players have at some point been injured, whether it is from a stick, ball or an overuse injury like a hamstring strain, knee pain, etc. We all know that hockey is a dangerous game but that is why a lot of us love it, because it's exciting. However you must take pre-cautionary measure to prevent injuries as much as you can. It is essential that you spend enough time ensuring that you recover properly and look after your body in the right ways or it may affect your next game and even later on in life. In this module we share with you some strategies in both preventing and treating injuries as well as releasing tight muscles. We have also recognised how mobility limitations can not only affect your performance but can also result in injuries due to bad biomechanics if ignored, so we provide you with a solution to pick up any weak area's than need attention.

There is a lot of confusion when it comes to nutrition, what to eat when and how much, how often, etc. Nutrition has a massive influence in your performance and can also affect decision making. Everyone is different so we provide you with a formula for calculating how much you should be eating based on you. We also teach about essential macronutrients and the proportions you should aim for for carbohydrates, protein and fat, how to read food labels so you understand what you are putting into your body as well as advice on supplements and which ones are actually worth considering, as a lot of them are just money making businesses. If you have questions about what to eat before, during and after games then this module will definitely help you.

Training your eyes is as important as training your muscles. When it comes to sport, being able to see where your team mates are, where the defenders are, seeing passes, reading space and ultimately having enough information to make decisions is essential to performance. Part of this module has been put together by Vision Performance Director Dr Zoe Wimshurst who has worked with many top international sports men and women including the GB Men's Hockey Team. We also include a few exercises to improve your spacial and peripheral awareness, which is one of the most important aspects of vision in hockey.

Throughout my own personal experience I have come to realise that most players do not understand tactics or perhaps some coaches are not great at explaining tactics to players. According to surveys I did even some international players are not sure why you play certain presses or the types of formations and various attacking objectives and defensive strategies. Our aim in this module is to provide you with an understanding of the essential and most important tactics used in hockey as well as explain how to have a presence on the field. This should leave you with confidence knowing your role in various presses, types of play and we also talk about the importance of creating 2 v 1 situations.

This part of the course is normally what people practice the most but we need to understand that everything else is as important. The attacking and defending skills shown in the video's in this module are demonstrated by England & Great Britain players, Ashleigh Ball and Sally Walton (Olympic Bronze medalists at the London 2012 Olympics). They showcase a number of attacking and defending skills which are often used in hockey which include a variety of elimination skills, passing, aerials, shooting, deflections, leading, getting in front of your player to receive the ball and first touch, as well as the correct techniques for various tackles. And for Goalkeepers, don't worry we also have you covered, the goalkeeper video's are demonstrated by South African Hockey Goalkeeper and Double Olympian Sanani Mangisa where she teaches you the essentials of goalkeeping to get to the next level.