Enroll early for Summer 2027 to secure your preferred campus and program.
Manage pressure, strengthen focus, and lead with purpose through Elevate by IMG Academy in this two-week afternoon course at UC San Diego.
Course Description
When the pressure rises, the next decision matters. A missed shot, a tough exam question, or an unexpected change can test how you respond—and what you tell yourself next.
In this course you will explore mental performance and leadership through interactive activities, discussion, reflection, and real-world scenarios drawn from Elevate by IMG Academy. Investigate how thoughts, emotions, habits, and relationships affect performance in sport, school, and everyday life. Practice recognizing and reshaping unhelpful self-talk, developing focus and pre-performance routines, and using breathwork to manage pressure.
Team exercises explore trust, communication, accountability, and what it means to lead by example. Practice setting goals, responding constructively to mistakes, and reframing setbacks. Reflect on your values, personal purpose, and different roles to consider how identity and balance affect your choices. Bring these techniques together in a personal mental-performance toolkit you can use when a situation becomes challenging.
This two-week afternoon Summer Discovery course for high school students takes place on UC San Diego’s campus in La Jolla, California. The strategies extend beyond athletics, helping students approach academics, teamwork, and everyday responsibilities with greater intention.
What Will You Do?
• Identify and reframe unhelpful self-talk
• Practice focus and pre-performance routines
• Use breathwork and perspective-taking to manage pressure
• Explore trust, communication, and teamwork in group scenarios
• Connect personal values and purpose to goals and accountability
• Reflect on setbacks and create a mental-performance toolkit
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
• Apply self-talk, focus routines, and breathwork to prepare for demanding situations
• Use reframing and resilience strategies to respond to pressure and setbacks
• Explain how communication, values, and accountability influence effective leadership and teamwork
You’ll leave with mental-performance techniques you’ve practiced, a personal toolkit for using them, and a certificate of completion.
Why Mental Performance and Leadership Skills Matter
Performance is shaped by more than preparation or ability. What you say to yourself, where you direct your attention, and how you respond after a mistake can affect what happens next. Practicing focus routines, breathwork, and reframing gives students specific strategies to try when pressure or uncertainty makes a task harder.
Leadership begins with choices you make about your own actions. Setting goals, recognizing your values, listening to teammates, and taking responsibility help build trust in a group. These habits are useful whether you are working toward a sports goal, preparing for a presentation, contributing to a school project, or navigating a setback.
Who Should Attend?
For students who have completed 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th grade.
If you want to perform with more confidence, respond better when things do not go to plan, or become a stronger teammate and leader, this course provides practical strategies to explore. Athletes and non-athletes alike can apply the exercises to school, extracurricular activities, and everyday challenges.
No previous mental-performance training is needed. Come ready to participate in team activities, reflect on your habits, and practice new approaches.
Your Summer at UCSD
UC San Diego’s coastal campus in La Jolla brings together ocean views, landscaped grounds, and an active research university. The Pacific Ocean is nearby, and the setting connects academic exploration with Southern California’s beaches, culture, and creative energy.
Outside class, students can make new friends, take part in campus activities, and experience a different daily routine from home. Shared summer experiences offer room for fun, growing independence, and discovering what it feels like to spend time in a university community.
After successfully finishing this course, you will be awarded a certification completion for your accomplishment.
*This is a preview, not what you will receive