Testimonials

What people have said about working with Zane

"Zanes method for helping young people understand why they do sport and what values support them is excellent. I have used the journal with Intermediate and College age netballers, it helped us reflect, think bigger than ourselves and gave us clarity on our next move."

- Deb Fuller, NZ Silver Ferns Assistant Coach

Zane Winslade's 'Mental Toughness Journal' is an excellent addition to any young athlete's tool box. It takes you on a journey where there are a number of 'light bulb' or 'eureka' moments of self discovery. The topics covered are also extremely relevant in so many areas of life and not just sport, for example, exploring your ancestry, identifying values, visualisation and dealing with worries, fears and doubts. The well phrased questions lead to reflection and new learnings which add value to your athletes performance as they make their way through the season and experience the highs and lows of sport alongside a busy academic schedule. This journal helps our young athletes here at Otumoetai College develop important life skills which will positively impact and improve 'Mental Toughness'. As Zane states in the journal himself 'We all have mental toughness within us, this journal will help you uncover yours'.

-Ian Ridgway, Director of Sport Otumoetai College.

Zane has been an integral part of the Sport Bay of Plenty Pathway to Podium programme for the last 2 years and has been utilised as our first point of call for all referrals in this sports psychology space. During this time he has worked with multiple athletes who have succeeded in making behavioural change to enhance their performances on and off the field of play. I would not hesitate to recommend his services in this arena”

- Dave Clarke (Coaching and Talent Development Team Leader, Sport Bay of Plenty)

"Zane has worked with the players from the Bay of Plenty Rugby Academy for three years. He has a great ability in building self-awareness in athletes, to help accelerate their development both on and off the field."
- Kyle Mclean (Former Bay of Plenty Rugby Union Academy Manager. Owner of The Coaching Gig)

"Showjumping at the top level is high pressure and it can be easy to be overwhelmed and nervous in high pressure situations. Zane has given me valuable tools to manage stress and nerves that help to centre myself and is always a wise counsel for any questions or situations I have and need to deal with in my sport."
- Sam Morrison (24) New Zealand Senior Showjumping Representative

"I see Zane from time to time to help me to focus especially in pressure training environments and to give me methods to stop feeling overwhelmed in both training and game situations."
- Liam Morrison (18) Rugby Player

"My mental skills sessions with Zane were extremely beneficial and showed a major increase in performance in high pressure sporting situations. Zane made examples very simple and easy to understand, the mental training exercises that I implemented were simple to do but the exercises would cause mental strategies to be used in competition that have been learnt in the lessons with Zane."
- Matthew Clark (15) Competitive Skeet Shooting

"Zane worked with Rico to help him with his self confidence in his sport. Zane has a calm, easy going manner which helped Rico to open up and talk freely. He always listened first, before starting on with his advice and suggestions. His tactics for Rico to use came of great use and I feel Rico came away feeling more confident regarding the mental aspect of how to play in his games, and improved the way he thought while playing."
- Rico Nelson (13) Mount College and Under 15 NZ Representative Basketball Player

"...The difference in his sport but also in everyday life has been amazing since coming to work with you. He has found a new way to approach things when they are going wrong and turn them around to his favour, and this is helping him to go forward and become a better sports person..."
- Parent of Representative Squash Player

Seeing Zane really helped me focus on what was going to be important in preparing for a season of rugby in France. He helped me to remain confident in returning to play to the best of my ability after a long lay off and rehabilitation process from significant injury.
- Matt (30) Rugby Player, Championnat France

Zane took a 2 hour mindset session with the Tauranga Girls College rowers and their parents. His message was clear and he broke the information down into manageable chunks. The girls walked away with tangible tools and ways of thinking to help them cope with the pressures of sport. Zane was entertaining and relatable. TGC rowing will continue to work with him to help build capacity in our girls.
- Rosie Potter, Teacher in Charge of Rowing, Tauranga Girls College

"We invited Zane to talk at our team planning day and I am glad that we did - Zane has a casual but valuable approach to a very important topic for us - creating high performance cultures - using plan language and really great examples of past experiences, he gets his point across in a meaningful way that resonated with every one of us - the fun team activity at the end was a really nice touch!"
- Nathan Maisey, Maisey Harris and Co Accountancy

Zane was easy to listen to and is able to keep the attention in class when he speaks. His wealth of experience as a young athlete growing up and becoming a professional rugby player is relieving and motivating for young aspiring athletes. His examples of set backs and mental thoughts were common place and to be able to explain techniques to avoid negativity and to keep positive was extremely valuable and much appreciated!
- Carwyn Evans

“Zane ran a great session with our wider engineering team. He was easy to relate to which made him effective at communicating the important things about building a strong team. His key messages about vulnerability and flow created great discussion amongst the team. Many of our staff took away points to help improve relationships and productivity in their professional and personal life.”
- Fleur Gallen, Trustpower